ALLEGED ASSAULT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 191, 8 May 1919, Page 3

ALLEGED ASSAULT

ACCUSED COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. / At the Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Mr. E. V. FraMV, S.M., a. charge of having assaulted George Basan.so as to cause him actual bodily harm was preferred against Kkristian Henry Jensen. Acting-Sub-Inspector Emerson prosecuted, and Mr. W. G. Mellish appeared for the defendant. Herbert Charles Eaulke, duly qualified medical practitioner, said that on the evening of May t George Basan called at his surgery for attention. Ho was suffering from a cut across the top of the nose, on tho right side, extending down tho bone, which- was broken. The. nose was deformed through .the. break, iu that it was driven over towards the left side. Tho wound was stitched, but there was still some deformity which to; remedy completely would require an operation under an anaesthetic. The injury could havo been caused by a blow from a man's closed fist.

Georgo Bnsan, labourer, residing at No. 30 Bullcr Street, said that he was standing in Manners Street at about 6.45 p.m. on May i, talking to a friend. He did not remember anything until' a. quarter of an hour later in a chemist's shop. He was then suffering from an injury to his nose, but'he did not know how he received it. He had known tho accused for over twelve months. Seven or'eight months ago accused struck him with a knife. On tho night of May 1, accused had attacked him in Cuba Street, striking witness with his fist. Ho knew pi no reason for the' assault. Once they •hnd had a few words'over the war.

To Mr. Mellish: Witness had been bad friends with accused .for some time. He did not see Jensen before he was hit. Witness told a policeman that he had, fallen down and hit his nose on the footpath. ■ He did not know whether }t was Jensen who hit him or not. To Acting-Sub-Inspector Emerson: Wit: ness did not know what, had happened until ho camo to in tho chemist's shop, and his thoughts were confused when he told the policeman ho must have fallen and bit his noso on the footpath. Raphael Badia Gomez, wharf labourer, said he saw accused push ; Basan to the ground. He saw Baaan lying on his back on the footpath and bleeding about the 'face. The accused walked away.

Polico Constable John Dcniuth said that he saw Basan in Manners Street at 7 p.m. on May i, when lie was bleeding about tho face. He took the injured man into a chemist's shop for attention, but he fainted. He later took Basan to Dr.; Pa.ulko'6 6urgery. Ho did not ses anything- of tho accused.To Mr. Mellish: Witness paid that in his opinion Basan did not lunderstand what'had happened when he was questioned. He did not have his wits about him. On' inquiry witness ascertainod from an onlooker that Basan had been knocked to tho footpath. Police Sergeant M Holm 6aid lie visited accused's home in Drummond Street shortly after the offence and asked him if he knew George Basan. 'At first ho said he did not, but later admitted that he did. When told that it ivas alleged he (Jenson) had assaulted Basan in Manners Street accused said, ''It's the first I've heard about it." • Witness noticed that Accused's right hand tad been injured, and accused said that ho had broken it early that' morning. Immediately Jensen admitted that he had struck Basan witness told him that he would bo arrested and charged with causing actual 'bodily harm. Accused then made it statement, in which, he admitted striking Basan and receiving the- injury to his right hand as a consequence. The knucklo had been split and attended to by Dr. Ewart. His Worship would 'not agree with counsel's suggestion that tho case be disposed of summarily—it was a case for a jury to decide. The accused pleaded not guilty and wa6 committed to the Supreme Court for trial" Bail was allowed in the sum of ,£25 and one surety of .£25.'