J.P.s commit man for trial after depositions hearing

Press, 4 February 1987, Page 4

J.P.s commit man for trial after depositions hearing

Sufficient evidence had been forwarded to commit a Christchurch man for trial on a charge of assault with intent to injure, two Justices of the Peace decided after a depositions hearing in the Christchurch District Court yesterday.

Nicholas William Schwaiger (Mr E. Bedo), aged 24, was committed for trial after Messrs C. W. Crawford and J. F. Mann heard evidence from four prosecution witnesses.

Sergeant Graeme Jones said that at 7.20 p.m. on September 6, 1985, a fight

broke .out near a pool table in the public bar of the Russley Hotel. It was alleged that Schwaiger and a number of other people were involved, and that during the fight, Schwaiger picked up a glass and pushed it into the face of the complainant, Mr Murray Woodgate. The injuries sustained by Mr Woodgate required 40 stitches.

Mr Woodgate said he had been in the bar and had gone over to the fight and held two people off other patrons, in the midst of a general melee involving 20 to 30 people. The bar manager had come over and ordered him to leave, and he had indicated that it shouldn’t be him that should leave, but Schwaiger, said another witness, Mr Gordon Keith Gossett.

Mr Woodgate said that Schwaiger then grabbed him, and he tried to protect himself by headbutting Schwaiger. At the same time a number of other people also jumped on him.

“I fell on to my left knee and couldn’t get up. Schwaiger held the back of my shirt and other people held my arms. As I started to stand, I saw Schwaiger reach out to a bar rail and wipe along it

with his arm, eventually getting hold of a glass in his right hand-and swinging it in my face,” said Mr Woodgate. In answer to a question from Mr Bedo, Mr Woodgate said Schwaiger was the last person he saw before the injury to his face.

Mr Alan Roy Roberts said Mr Woodgate was bent over with his head down when the glass hit him, and would only have presumed who it had come from. He said Schwaiger had a cut on his right hand.

The defence did not call any witnesses or provide evidence.

The trial date will be decided on February 20.