Serious assault – nightclub bottling incident

Our client was charged with assault occasioning bodily harm. The alleged offence occurred in the early hours of the morning at a popular Northbridge venue. The prosecution alleged our client picked up an empty bottle and struck the complainant to the head, causing a laceration. At trial we argued our client acted in self-defence in response to the complainant’s aggression, accidentally striking the complainant while not remembering there was a bottle in our client’s hand. The trial magistrate was not satisfied the prosecution had proved its case. Our client was acquitted and obtained costs.