Supreme court for anti-smacking test case?

An anti-smacking test case may end up in the Supreme Court after a Christchurch father had his appeal against conviction and sentence for assaulting his four-year-old son rejected this week.

Leading criminal lawyer Greg King said yesterday he was reviewing James Mason's case and consider appealing to the highest court in the land.

"I said I'd review it for him and, on the face of it, there does seem to be some issues," he told The Press.

Mason, a musician was found guilty last year of pulling his four-year-old son's ear and punching him in the face.

He was sentenced nine months supervision and ordered to undertake programmes as directed by the Probation Service.

Mason denied the charges saying he pulled the child's hair and flicked his ear to stop him going back into a dangerous situation on his bike.

The Court of Appeal this week dismissed Mason's appeal against conviction and sentence.

- NZPA