A man who assaulted a Queenstown police sergeant with a torch
was yesterday convicted of disorderly behaviour and remanded
on bail for sentencing in two weeks.
The Queenstown District Court was told David Keith Nicol (31)
was arrested on October 22 after swearing at a police officer
in town while grossly intoxicated.
While his fingerprints were being recorded at the police
station by a senior sergeant, Nicol pulled the torch from the
officer's jacket and hit him in the back of his head, causing
the officer to bleed. The officer's open wound had had to be
glued together, the court was told.
Judge Michael Turner convicted Nicol on his disorderly
behaviour charge and fined him $100 plus court costs of
$132.89.
He pleaded guilty to the charge of assault and was remanded
on bail to appear at the Queenstown District Court on
December 3.
One of the men who allegedly assaulted an unidentified man in
Cow Lane last month was remanded without plea for a
fortnight.
Graeme Derek Thorburn (30), unemployed, of Scotland had
initially been charged with assault following the October 17
incident.
However prosecutor, Sergeant Ian Collin, upgraded the charge
to assaulting persons unknown with intent to injure during
Thorburn's appearance in court yesterday.
He is next due to appear in Queenstown on November 19.
Last month, the Otago Daily Times reported the alleged
incident occurred at 2.30am after the victim was removed from
the Cow Lane bar by the duty manager.
The victim was then allegedly assaulted by the duty manager
and another member of staff receiving up to 20 punches to the
head during the prolonged attack.
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