An off-duty detective has been found guilty of attacking a male model at a fashion show after-party in Auckland.
Jan de Moor, who has since resigned from the force, punched and kneed Elliott Serjeant several times in the head after Mr Serjeant stumbled into him on the dance floor.
Mr Serjeant said he needed X-rays and a CT scan after the attack in September 2012.
But while Jan de Moor never denied hitting him, the 34-year-old claims told the Auckland District Court on Thursday that he was acting in self-defence.
De Moor told said he was on the dance floor of the crowded bar when Mr Serjeant stumbled into him. He said he pushed the man away, and when he did the man turned around and swore at him and whacked away his arm.
De Moor said he thought Mr Serjeant was going to strike him, so he said he punched him in the face at least twice. He told the court he believed he was acting in self-defence.
But Judge Rob Ronayne rejected that, describing the attack as nasty and vicious. He said the blows that de Moor landed were multiple, forceful and aggressive.
Dan Gosling, designer of the Stolen Girlfriend's Club label and party host, earlier told the court that he was one of the first people to intervene in the attack. Mr Gosling said there were limbs flying everywhere and that he saw a kneeing motion. He said the model's face was a mess.
De Moor served as a policeman for eight years and was a detective constable with the Counties Manukau police before resigning.
