Corey Webster accuses police of racism, says he 'never threw one punch'

Corey Webster outside North Shore District Court during a court appearance late last year. Photo / Greg Bowker

Basketball star Corey Webster says he was fingered as the assailant in a bar brawl because of his athletic fame, a court has heard.

The 28-year-old NBA hopeful is on trial at the North Shore District Court charged with assault after a midnight tussle at Takapuna Bar on November 30 last year.

During arresting officer Constable Davide Mella's testimony today, Webster's attitude on the night was described as "disgraceful" and "argumentative".

Mella also said Webster made several "racial inferences" and that police have "issues with black people".

Webster was arrested at 12.36am, before being formally interviewed by Mella at 2.38am.

The shooting guard had been celebrating his birthday over dinner and drinks with friends.

Today, the court was played a video of Webster's interview with Mella.

"I didn't assault anybody," Webster said, making his statement without the presence of a lawyer.

"I didn't assault anybody. That's what happened at the bar," he said repeatedly, professing his innocence several times.

"There was a fight, but I, myself, did not assault anybody."

Webster said he "didn't see exactly what happened" during the brawl which he described as "people yelling and getting crazy".

"I didn't hit anyone," he said. "I never threw one punch."

Webster then proposed to Mella that the complaint to police, identifying him as the attacker, had been made because of his fame as a professional athlete.

"You might not know me, but I play for the New Zealand Breakers," Webster said, adding he was particularly well known to North Shore residents.

"Most people know who I am, most people know that."

He said he wasn't "trying to brag", but would have been recognisable to other patrons at the bar.

"I'm probably the first person that they're gonna say, 'I saw him there and I saw him, him involved'.

"I play basketball ... 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 sh*t like that?" he added through tears.

"I play for the New Zealand Breakers, do you think I'd go and f***ing punch someone?"

He admitted he had drunk "a lot of drinks" and was "intoxicated" during the night, but asked police to "check the camera", adamant the CCTV footage would exonerate him.

"If [the CCTV shows] that I punched someone over, done whatever he said, punched him over or whatever, then f***ing put me in jail, but I know, damn sure, that I never punched anyone," he told Mella.

Webster also accused Mella of "making sh*t up" after the officer asked if Webster tried to break-up the fight, before Mella said, "I think we're wasting our time right now".

Webster replied, "wow".

Webster was invited to play in the NBA's summer league this year with the Dallas Mavericks. Photo / File

Earlier in the trial, the bar's duty manager on the night, Eve Whitley, gave evidence about the affray which led to her friend Joungmin Namkung (also known as Max) being allegedly hit by the former Breaker.

She said she saw Namkung punched to the face and stomach after trying to calm a man holding a bar stool.

"I saw bits of it. I saw him getting hit on the ground."

However, when asked by police prosecutor Farrukh Gul Qaisrani if she saw the man punching her friend, she replied, "no, I don't remember any of the faces".

"There was a lot of people outside."

When later asked by police to identify the attacker from a police photo line-up of eight people she was unable to pick anyone out.

Yesterday, Namkung told the court he was walking by when he noticed a fight brewing outside the establishment.

He told the court he noticed a man grabbing a bar stool and worried for Whitley's safety.

When Namkung tried to intervene he said he was placed in a "choke-hold" and thrown to the ground.

He said he suffered injured ribs and a sore cheek in the altercation, but was unsure who his attacker was.

During cross-examination by Webster's lawyer Fletcher Pilditch, Namkung said he "guessed" his injuries had been a result of a punch.

"You guessed you were punched," Pilditch repeated.

"What are the chances of getting that pain from anything else?" Namkung replied.

Webster's co-accused, Tane Houston, earlier pleaded guilty to behaving in an offensive manner but is seeking a discharge without conviction.

Webster is currently signed to the NBL's Perth Wildcats after several seasons with the Breakers. Photo / Jason Oxenham

Yesterday, musician Michael Tilton claimed Webster pulled at his Santa-like beard several times as he collected donations at the pub for Starship Hospital's Shaving Santa fundraiser.

Webster has denied two charges of assault. One count of assault with intent to injure was dismissed after the prosecution failed to summon the witness to court for the trial.

As one of New Zealand's top players, Webster was invited to play in the NBA's summer league this year with the Dallas Mavericks, two years after he played in NBA pre-season with the New Orleans Pelicans.

Earlier this year the shooting guard had been playing with the champion Wellington Saints in New Zealand's basketball league where he was named the 2017 MVP and season's top scorer.

The trial continues.