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.
