A man has denied he was responsible for punching another man in the face on the dance floor of a nightclub, a jury has heard.
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Kahn Isaak Sandy has pleaded not guilty to one count of assault before Justice Robert Pearce in the Launceston Supreme Court.
Crown Prosecutor Luke Brett told the jury the 23-year-old punched Ryan Cook on the dance floor of Club 54 after a University of Tasmania ball at the Launceston Grand Chancellor in October 2016.
Mr Cook and his girlfriend Emily Pickett were walking towards their friend Liam Keegan, who was on the dance floor, when they saw a man aggressively push him, the court heard.
In an attempt to diffuse the situation, Mr Cook allegedly stepped between the men and tried to move his friend away.
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But he did not get the chance to move away as he was punched from behind, knocking out two of his teeth and causing his mouth to bleed “profusely”, the court heard.
Defence lawyer Fabiano Cangelosi said his client was at Club 54 that night, but he did not punch Mr Cook.
“It was not him,” Mr Cangelosi repeated when addressing the jury.
Mr Cangelosi told the court the only question was who hit Mr Cook and it was not his client.
Mr Cook told the court he stumbled after the punch and Miss Pickett caught him.
One of Mr Cook’s dislodged teeth fell into his hand and was later reinserted at the Launceston General Hospital after the alleged incident.
The trial will continue on Monday.