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A judge accused of hitting his former partner and pushing her into a mantelpiece was a “broken man” after the pair split up, a court has been told.
Tasmania Supreme Court Justice Gregory Geason has pleaded not guilty to assault and one count of emotional abuse or intimidation.
It is alleged Geason shook his then-partner, struck her in the chest up to eight times and pushed her forcefully into a mantelpiece causing her to hit her head on October 31.
Geason disputes her version of events, telling the court she hit her head after falling into a table while “unsteady”, potentially because she had too much to drink.
Geason has also denied tracking the woman, verbally abusing her and pressuring her to sign a house contract with him.
Beven Schwaiger, a long-term friend of the judge, gave evidence in Hobart Magistrates Court on Tuesday before the seven-day hearing concluded.
“I invited him to come and stay for a few days. He was very much a broken man,” Schwaiger said about Geason and the woman’s break-up in November.
“He was very distraught about what had happened. He was very confused and extremely upset.”
Schwaiger, who met the woman several times, said she was an “excessive” drinker and acted erratically at a party.
Geason’s ex-wife Gillian Fiddy also told the court the woman, her friend, was someone who would “drink a lot”.
“When (she) drank a lot she became very unsteady on her feet and she would tend to, because of that, trip or fall … walk into things,” she said.
“I noticed that on quite a few occasions.”
Fiddy said she was “shocked” when the woman, who cannot be named, showed bruising on her arms allegedly caused by the assault.
“When she was talking to police she said Greg banged her head into the mantelpiece,” she said.
Fiddy, who at one point lived with Geason and the woman, said she had maintained a good relationship with her ex-husband.
She said the woman on occasions had “fresh alcohol breath” in the morning and once disguised her wine drinking in a tea cup.
Fiddy denied painting the woman to be a much heavier drinker than she actually was.
Fiddy also told the court police asked her to write a statement in support of the woman but she declined to do so because she was worried about bias.
Victorian Magistrate Susan Wakeling, who has heard the case because Geason is known to judges in Hobart, is likely to deliver a decision in September.
Geason is on leave from his job and has given a written undertaking to not exercise duties of a judge.
Readers seeking support can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or beyond blue on 1300 22 4636.
Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).
