IT took a jury less than an hour on Tuesday to find Stephen George Freeman not guilty of assaulting Robert Williamson.
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Mr Freeman convinced the jury he acted in self defence during an altercation in the car park at Duntryleague on July 19 last year, which left Mr Williamson in hospital with a fractured skull and Mr Freeman also hospitalised with a head injury.
The jury returned verdicts of not guilty on charges of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and causing grievous bodily harm.
“Justice has been done,” Mr Freeman said.
“I would really like to thank my legal team of Bill Walsh and Peter Boyd.”
Yesterday morning the prosecution and defence summed up their cases before Judge Peter Whitford told the jury they had be unanimous in their decision.
Summarising the cases, starting with the prosecution case, Judge Whitford reminded the jury of Mr Williamson’s evidence he tried to fend Mr Freeman off because he “thought he might be hammered” and that he told the jury he was frightened and intimidated by Mr Freeman after he was followed the night before the car park incident.
Judge Whitford also reminded the jury the Crown Prosecutor Peter Fox had indicated Williamson was a considered witness and that club members Tony Leahey and Ray Wilson had given similar accounts of hearing threats in the club by Mr Freeman to get even with Mr Williamson.
Judge Whitford told the jury there was no disputing the injuries to Mr Williamson, but they had to decide if intent was involved and if there was reasonable doubt in the case.
Judge Whitford also referred to Mr Walsh’s accusations that Mr Williamson was a serial liar and stalker, referring to evidence in court about the fish stunner kept in Mr Williamson’s car for months and incidents in Green Lane and Campbell’s Corner with Mr Freeman and Mr Williamson’s ex-wife.
He also referred to Mr Walsh’s summation claiming Mr Williamson gave four different versions of what happened in the car park incident, and the failure of police to gather forensic evidence from the scene or photograph the men’s injuries.
Among other aspects of the case, the judge also summarised Mr Walsh’s submission Mr Freeman had walked back in to the club and asked for the police to be called, saying he had been assaulted, before sitting down calmly and waiting for the police to arrive.