28 Jun 2017

Webster denied throwing 'dumb arse' punch, court told

5:02 pm on 28 June 2017

Former New Zealand Breakers star Corey Webster told police he was out drinking with friends in a bar when a fight broke out but he didn't assault anyone.

Corey Webster enters the North Shore Distric Court.

Corey Webster arrives at the North Shore District Court late last year. Photo: RNZ / Tom Furley

Mr Webster has denied charges of assault and is on trial at the North Shore District Court.

He had been out to dinner with his girlfriend and friends, celebrating his birthday in November last year. He ended up in the Takapuna Bar on Hurstmere Rd on Auckland's North Shore when a fight broke out.

Mr Webster told Constable Davide Mella in a recorded DVD interview that he did not throw any punches.

When asked why an independent witness identified him as the man throwing punches, Mr Webster said it might be because the witness recognised him.

Mr Webster: "You might not know me, but I play for the New Zealand Breakers, surely you know who the New Zealand Breaker are?

Mr Mella: "Of course I know who the New Zealand breakers are."

Mr Webster: "Of course you do. So a lot of people on the North Shore know who the New Zealand Breakers are. And if they're going to see me there ... Then the majority of people know, I'm not trying to brag or anything, I would never do that."

Mr Webster confirmed he was in the middle of the fight and his friends were involved, but again repeated he did not punch anyone.

"I had a lot of drinks tonight - it was my birthday. So, I was intoxicated. I'm not trying to lie about that, I'm allowed to drink, I'm a grown man. But I didn't see exactly what happened, a lot of s*** happened and it kind of just got out of hand."

Mr Webster said he was certain there would be CCTV footage of the incident and encouraged Mr Mella to look at it.

Mr Webster then got emotional as he said: "Sir, can I just say something, I play..."

Mr Mella: "You keep talking about basketball... It's got nothing to do... with why we're here.

Mr Webster: "It does, it does because you respect your job. I respect my job. Do you think I would punch someone over in a bar when I, that's my job and people know me. Do you think I'd do some dumb arse s*** like that and punch someone over?"

He invited the officer to put him in jail if the camera showed him punching someone.

Mr Webster got frustrated at the end and accused the officer of making things up.

"I didn't assault anyone."

Mr Mella asked him how he was involved. Mr Webster responded: "Do you understand English? I said the people that I was with were involved in this altercation, there was multiple people but, I, myself, me, did not punch anyone."

Earlier Mr Mella told the court that when he had arrested Mr Webster, Mr Webster had accused the police of being racist. Mr Milla said he was offended by the comments.

Under cross-examinaiton from Mr Webster's lawyer Fletcher Pilditch, Mr Milla confirmed Mr Webster was still intoxicated but not to the extent that carrying on with the interview would be unfair.

Mr Webster faced another more serious charge of injuring with intent, but this was dismissed after the police failed to find the witness.

Mr Webster has left the Breakers and signed with the Perth Wildcats earlier this year. He is set to fly to Dallas to trial for the Mavericks in the NBA summer league.

Another man, Tane Houston, pleaded guilty to two assault charges. He will seek a discharge without conviction and had apologised to the complainant.