Policeman not guilty of assault on his nephew

A policeman in court for assault has been found not guilty.

A police officer charged with domestic assault on his nephew has been found not guilty by a jury in Napier District Court.

The jury of six men and six women deliberated for little over an hour before the verdicts on two charges of assault were delivered about 4.25pm on the third day of the trial. The officer was granted name suppression.

The trial related to a visit the accused made in June last year to the home of his brother, the father of the complainant.

The boy had told police that after he had thrown down his PlayStation after failing at a game, the uncle entered the house, grabbed him by the neck and pushed him backwards.

The uncle said he had tapped on the window from outside and when the boy did not respond and appeared almost lifeless, he went inside and took hold of the boy because he thought something was wrong medically.

He denied grabbing the boy by the neck and asking: "Are you deaf?"

Police became involved after the boy returned to his mother that night.

Defence counsel Peter Coles said in his closing address it was an issue of credibility and whether the jury accepted what the boy had said or what the accused man said.

New Zealand Police Association president Greg O'Connor, who was not at the trial, said: "Anyone who believes that police officers are treated any less than anyone else in these circumstances need only look at this case."

If anything, the scrutiny on officers facing such allegations was even greater, Mr O'Connor said.

It was a case of "if in doubt put it before the court".

"The reason there is no conviction is usually because there has been very little evidence," he added.