A JURY in the trial of a Tamworth man accused of a one-punch attack has been shown CCTV footage of the moments inside a hotel before the street encounter.
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Jack Stevenson has pleaded not guilty to one count of recklessly causing grievous bodily harm after the alleged altercation on November 8 in the Tamworth CBD.
A jury was empanelled yesterday morning in Tamworth District Court by Judge Deborah Payne before opening submissions were made.
The trial will hear from a number of people who were key witnesses to the Peel St incident.
Stevenson is also expected to take the stand to give his version of events.
It’s alleged Stevenson walked out of the Courthouse Hotel and down the street before striking Curtis Ay Shay, 37, in the face with one punch just before 11pm.
The prosecution maintains the force of the blow caused Mr Ay Shay to fall and hit his head on the concrete pavement, knocking him unconscious.
Mr Ay Shay suffered critical injuries and was transferred to a Newcastle hospital for specialist treatment before he returned to Tamworth for ongoing rehabilitation for his injuries.
Stevenson, who remains on bail, sat quietly in the dock yesterday, supported by a number of family members.
During yesterday’s proceedings, the 12-member jury was shown 30 pages of photos taken from CCTV footage captured inside the Courthouse Hotel.
A video, taken from surveillance cameras inside, was also played to the court, showing Mr Ay Shay walking into the hotel and Stevenson sitting at the bar.
Officer-in-charge of the case, Detective Senior Constable Andrew Wells, took to the stand yesterday, detailing to the jury the movements of the pair inside the hotel.
The jury was shown vision of Mr Ay Shay drinking in the pool room next to Stevenson, who could be seen playing pool with a friend.
Shortly after, Mr Ay Shay was seen finishing a drink and being shown out of the premises before he was captured on video through the window outside the hotel.
A number of photographs of the crime scene and of a lone shirt worn by Mr Ay Shay strewn on the pavement, as well as photos of Stevenson’s clothing, have also been tendered in evidence.
The trial continues.