00:00Justice Gheeson was asked to take leave from the Supreme Court in November over what the
00:06government described as a serious matter. It was later revealed he had been charged
00:11with one count of assault and one count of emotional abuse or intimidation, and he pleaded
00:16not guilty to both.
00:18Victorian Magistrate Susan Wakeling has been overseeing the case due to the unusual circumstances.
00:24In July, the court heard allegations that Justice Gheeson assaulted a woman by grabbing
00:28her, striking her to the chest and pushing her into a mantelpiece, causing bruising
00:33and a concussion.
00:34Justice Gheeson told the court the woman had tripped and fallen due to alcohol intoxication
00:39and bruising on her arms was caused by him helping her up.
00:42Today, Magistrate Wakeling said she accepted evidence from a doctor that the injuries were
00:46most likely caused by an assault and not accidental, and said they were acts done in anger.
00:52She also found that he tracked the woman's movements, used vicious insults and pressured
00:57her into putting her house up as equity for a loan, and said the woman was a witness of
01:02truth and convincing.
01:04The Tasmanian government has legislation before parliament to set up a process to handle complaints
01:09about judges. In the meantime, it's not yet clear whether the government will move a motion
01:13in parliament to remove Justice Gheeson from the bench.
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