A George Town man swung a tyre lever at a police officer in an attempt to avoid apprehension for his involvement in a case of motor vehicle stealing, the Supreme Court in Launceston heard.
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Glenn William Barnard pleaded not guilty to a count of aggravated assault at 9.50am on August 29, 2019.
Inspector Melanie Groves gave evidence to Crown prosecutor Jennifer Slevin that she was with Senior Constable Jonathon Frankcombe when they travelled to a bush block popular for dumping cars near George Town.
She saw a man with his head under the bonnet of a shrub-covered Mitsubishi which police believed had been stolen.
Shortly after a Hyundai drove off before stopping a short distance up the road.
Inspector Groves said she called stop police and walked along the side of the car.
I turned to glance at Senior Constable Frankcombe and as I turned back towards the male he swung a tyre iron in a striking motion.
- Inspector Groves
"If I hadn't withdrawn my hand the object would have hit my hand."
She said it was a metal object about 45cm in length.
Mr Barnard began walking off and was pursued by a third officer Inspector Adam Mollineaux.
The jury heard that the three officers conducted a search of the bush area but were unable to find the weapon.
The Hyundai was "chock a block" with parts from the Mitsubishi, Inspector Mollineaux said.
Under cross examination by defence counsel Mark Doyle, Inspector Groves said that she had not seen Mr Barnard with anything in his hand when she first got out of the police vehicle and had not seen him dispose of anything after the incident.
She said she had relived many times how she missed such a simple threat.
Inspector Mollineaux said he had not seen anything happen after Mr Barnard got out of the vehicle. He pursued him but was unable to catch him as he ran through thick scrub.
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Constable Frankcombe said he was focused on arresting the driver but saw the passenger swing something at Inspector Groves.
He told Mr Doyle: "I definitely saw him swing something".
He said he could not recall which hand was used.
But he said he had not seen anything in Mr Barnard's hand when he walked off up the bush track.
Ms Slevin said to find Mr Barnard guilty of aggravated assault the jury would need to find him guilty of assault with an intent resist apprehension.
She said an assault could occur without physical contact if the complainant believed he could carry out the threat.
Acting Justice David Porter will sum up on Tuesday and the jury is expected to retire to consider its verdict.