A TRIAL got underway in Broken Hill District Court this week for a man accused of assaulting another man with a glass bottle.
Forty-year-old Richard Bugmy is on trial for allegedly recklessly wounding 31-year-old Jason Smith in an incident on 8 November 2022 at Dareton.
The accused allegedly hit Mr Smith in the head with a glass bottle multiple times, continuing after the bottle broke and causing alleged actual bodily harm and deep lacerations to the complainant’s head and shoulder.
Mr Smith spent one night in hospital for the injuries.
The trial is being overseen by Judge Peter McGrath and in Thursday’s opening statements the Crown addressed the jury and said a medical expert based in Mildura would confirmed Smith’s injuries match a broken bottle attack.
In his opening statement, Mr Bugmy’s defence council said the accused did not recklessly wound Jason Smith on that night and did not use a bottle.
The first witness called to give evidence in the case on Thursday was Jason Smith, who appeared in-person at the Broken Hill District Court.
The trial is expected to continue next week.
— April Shepherd
