Corey Webster outside North Shore District Court during a court appearance late last year. Photo / Greg Bowker
An Auckland musician claims basketball star Corey Webster pulled his Santa-like beard so hard "clumps of hair started coming out", a court has heard.
The 28-year-old Tall Blacks star is on trial for assault at the North Shore District Court after a midnight incident at a Takapuna nightspot on November 30 last year.
Witness and musician Michael Tilton, who said he works at the Takapuna Bar on Tuesday nights, was helping with the Shaving Santa fundraiser for Starship Hospital that night.
After earlier drinking "two to three drinks" in the form of tequila and whiskey, Tilton began circulating the bar and collecting donations from patrons.
He then approached the former Breakers star's table in the outdoor area of the bar, where a group of people were sitting.
"They noticed the white beard and tugged on it," Tilton said, adding Webster was the first to pull on the long beard.
Tilton had dyed his beard white for the event.
He claimed Webster said, "you can't expect to have a white beard like that and not expect it to be pulled on".
Tilton said he attempted to stop the 1.88m Webster, who he felt was "taking the piss", by telling him the beard was real.
The musician claims his beard was then grabbed four to five times, which was "embarrassing, humiliating and painful".
Tilton said he wanted to "stay professional" and walk away, but retaliated by pulling Webster's "soul patch" in return.
"If you're going to pull my beard, I'm going to pull something on you," he recalled telling Webster.
After leaving to relax with his bandmates, Tilton told the court he felt a pain under his chin and began running his fingers through his beard.
"Clumps of hair started coming out," he said.
"When I came back to the bar the following day they were still finding hair all over the outside area."
Webster is expected to give evidence that the interaction was a joke and his conversation with Tilton began after the basketballer mentioned his charity work for the Ronald McDonald House.
During cross-examination, Webster's lawyer Fletcher Pilditch said his client had playfully asked Tilton if his beard was real and, "if I can pull yours you can pull mine?"
"You had a laugh and giggle about it," Pilditch submitted to Tilton.
Tilton replied: "I was pulled to the ground and was on one knee, that is something I was not laughing about.
"Yeah, we had a little joke about it," he added. "The first time may have been a joke, but after a few times it stops being a joke."
Pilditch said Webster and his partner would later give evidence that the basketballer and musician "gave each other a high-five" after the incident.
However, Tilton disagreed with that notion.
Pilditch also claimed the hair from Tilton's beard only began falling out once the musician began running his fingers over his chin.
"You're saying he pulled your beard so hard that it pulled hair from your skin, but miraculously managed to stay in your beard?"
Tilton replied: "That's how a beard works."
Pilditch also asked Tilton when he had been criminally charged for pulling his client's beard.
"I haven't," Tilton replied.
Webster has denied two charges of assault. One count of assault with intent to injure was dismissed after the prosecution failed to summon the witness to court for the trial.
Later in the night Joungmin Namkung said he was assaulted by a man at Takapuna Bar - a man police allege was Webster.
While giving evidence to the court, Namkung said he was walking by when he noticed a fight brewing outside the establishment.
He said he noticed a man grabbing a bar stool and worried for the safety of his friend, who was also the bar manager.
When Namkung attempted to intervene he was placed in a "choke-hold" and thrown to the ground.
He said he received injured ribs and a sore cheek from the altercation, but was unsure who the assailant was.
During cross-examination Namkung said he guessed his injuries had been a result of a punch.
"You've guessed you were punched," Pilditch reaffirmed for the court.
"What are the chances of getting that pain from anything else?" Namkung replied.
Webster's co-accused Tane Houston earlier pleaded guilty to behaving in an offensive manner but is seeking a discharge without conviction.
As one of New Zealand's top players, Webster was invited to play in the NBA's summer league this year with the Dallas Mavericks, two years after he played in NBA pre-season with the New Orleans Pelicans.
Earlier this year the shooting guard had been playing with the champion Wellington Saints in New Zealand's basketball league where he was named the 2017 MVP and season's top scorer.
The trial continues.