Iain Stables acquitted of assaulting ex's parents

'New Zealand Idol' judge Iain Stables lost his cool after losing his cat. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Broadcaster Iain Stables has been acquitted of assaulting the parents of his former partner.

However, Stables was found guilty at the Wellington District Court yesterday afternoon of punching Martin O'Hagan, the brother of his ex-partner.

The Crown alleged that Stables flew into a rage on March 20 last year when he was living with Kimberley O'Hagan in a flat at the front of her parents' property in the Wellington suburb of Seatoun.

Stables was told to leave Ms O'Hagan's flat after her mother, Marianne O'Hagan, found damage.

Outside court, Stable's lawyer Gretel Fairbrother said her client had never denied assaulting his ex-partner's brother but said it was in self-defence.

"It was a big win for him and it was the right result."

Stables - a former New Zealand Idol judge - told the court he had lost his career and had nothing left.

He took to the stand in his defence on Friday and said he was completely distressed by the situation, particularly because he alleged his former partner's mother kicked his cat in the head.

He admitted punching Kimberley's brother but said it was in self defence. He said he then tried to remove himself from the situation, and in the process, repeatedly drove into Marianne O'Hagan's car.

"I completely accept that I dented that car. I was stressed, I was upset ... I couldn't find my f***ing cat anywhere."

Stables pleaded guilty to intentionally damaging the car, but not guilty to assaulting Marianne, Martin and Kimberley's father, Robert O'Hagan.

Under cross-examination, Stables said tensions were through the roof, and accepted he assaulted Martin "after they pushed me, after I have been ganged up [on] by an entire family".

Asked whether he was lying, Stables replied: "What have I got to gain? I have already been screwed."

The jury of 11 was sent home late on Friday night and resumed deliberations yesterday morning. It returned a verdict after 4pm.

Stables faced a charge of disorderly behaviour in July last year in relation to a separate incident at Auckland Airport.

The charge was dropped after the other person involved - Jetstar contract worker Patrick Joseph Ulberg - was found not guilty of assault.