A NIGHT of intimidation preceded an assault on Robert Williamson, which left him with a fractured skull in July last year, Orange District Court heard on Thursday.
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NSW Trade and Investment employees Wendy Gillard, Valmae Houlahan and Frances Kumbley gave evidence about the Friday night they met work colleague Mr Williamson for dinner and drinks at Duntryleague Golf Club, prior to his confrontation with Stephen George Freeman on the Saturday.
Freeman is charged with bashing Mr Williamson in the golf club’s car park.
The women all testified they enjoyed drinks with Mr Williamson before Freeman entered the clubhouse and began staring at his former friend.
“He [Williamson] said something like, ‘Don’t turn around, the grub’s arrived’,” Ms Gillard said.
Ms Kumbley said Mr Williamson’s demeanor changed as Freeman sat at the bar.
“He appeared quite frightened,” she said.
Ms Houlahan said Mr Williamson left the venue first and as the women entered her car, she noticed Freeman entered his vehicle and drove off “really quick”.
“He was close enough he skidded and gravel hit my car,” she said.
Asked by defence barrister Bill Walsh why she had not mentioned pebbles hitting her car in her police statement, she said it did not occur to her at the time.
Several witnesses told the court Mr Williamson contacted them after Freeman followed him home to Linden Avenue, however Mr Williamson had parked on the opposite side of the road and observed Freeman drive past.
His sister, Linda Ridge, testified he turned up at her Clifton Grove home at about 8.45pm, fearing for his safety, but later returned home.
“He didn’t sleep in the bedroom that night, he slept in the lounge room,” she said.
Mr Williamson’s friend, Fred Tomley, was with him on the night of the assault and told the court after he heard raised voices and saw his friend on the ground, he approached Freeman and felt himself being pushed to the ground.
Mr Tomley said he had consumed about seven schooners of full-strength beer that night and did not recall anything between hitting the pavement and the police arriving.
During cross-examination, Mr Walsh put forward a sequence of events where Mr Tomley and Mr Williamson approached Freeman despite warnings to stop or he would call the police, but neither recalled it occurring.
Duntryleague staff member Peter Golland, who is also Mr Williamson’s neighbour, said he saw Mr Williamson at the club three Saturdays out of four but Mr Freeman only six to 10 times in a 20-year period.
However, he also told the court he spotted the weapon involved, a fish stunner, in Mr Williamson’s house the morning of the incident.
Orange councillor Reg Kidd left Duntryleague on the Saturday night, prior to the assault, and said Freeman had offered him a lift, which he accepted.
In the car, he said he heard him discussing dinner with his wife over the phone and said he would be home shortly.
“Mr Freeman was assaulted on the paddock [refereeing rugby union] and that person was pulled off and he just got on with refereeing the game, and that speaks to someone’s character,” he said.
