THE assault trial of Robert Jeffrey depends largely on evidence given by the victim’s partner, a jury was told this morning.
Jeffrey, 51, appeared in the County Court in Ballarat earlier today, where he stands accused of seriously assaulting Robert Linane in Ballarat North on March 6 this year.
In her closing address to the jury, crown prosecutor Wendy Duncan said evidence given by Mr Linane’s partner Leanne Lawson was crucial.
“A lot depends on whether you accept her evidence,” she said.
Ms Duncan told the jury there were several situations which showed Ms Lawson’s evidence to be truthful, including in a triple-zero call made hours before the assault when a group of people gathered outside her home.
In her evidence, Ms Lawson claimed a group had made threatening comments and smashed at least two windows of her home during the early hours of March 6 last year.
In the triple-zero call, which was played to the jury earlier in the trial, Ms Lawson nominated “Bob Jeffrey” as being present at the time.
“She’s obviously very scared, she’s had no time to think up stories,” Ms Duncan said.
“This is in the heat of the moment. This is someone who’s spontaneous while she’s dialling triple-zero and nominates Bob Jeffrey.
“It’s not someone who’s had six weeks or six months to think up a story.”
Ms Duncan also disputed evidence given by defence witness Tristan Thomas, who claimed Ms Lawson had stabbed her son at least four times with a screwdriver the day before Mr Linane was assaulted.
Jeffrey’s defence will give their closing address to the jury this afternoon.
Jeffrey has pleaded not guilty to intentionally causing serious injury, aggravated burglary, criminal damage and theft.