Police officer faces trial for child assault charge

A police officer will go to trial in August to face a charge of assaulting a child.

The officer, whose name has been suppressed, pleaded not guilty to the charge after a depositions hearing in Blenheim District Court on Monday and yesterday.

During the hearing, Justices of the Peace Gregory Weake and Errol Hadfield heard that the officer had hit the child in the stomach with a closed fist and pulled on the child's arm.

The assault allegedly took place between December 16 and 23 last year.

The officer has been stood down from duties since first being charged early last month.

The child told the court on Monday that the off-duty officer had become angry with him.

The child was allegedly hit in the solar plexus, grabbed by the arm and pushed to the ground.

Defence lawyer Gary Sawyer asked how the child knew what the solar plexus was, with the reply that it had been taught in a karate class.

Crown lawyer Glen Marshall also questioned the child's mother. She did not see the officer hit the child, she said, but did see him grab him by the arm and throw him to the ground.

The mother said she did not hear the argument due to a chainsaw being used nearby.

After considering the evidence, the JPs decided there was a case to answer.

The police officer has been remanded on bail and will appear in Blenheim District Court on August 23 for trial.

- nzpa