A man accused of stabbing another man in a carpark brawl has been found not guilty.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
An ACT supreme court jury took six hours today to clear Jesse Roland Palmer of intentionally inflicting grievous bodily harm.
Palmer was also cleared of an alternate count of recklessly inflicting grievous bodily harm.
In light of the jurors verdict, Justice Hilary Penfold dismissed the summary charge of possessing a knife without a reasonable excuse.
Palmer and the complainant were both drinking at the Belconnen Soccer Club, Hawker in December 2010.
The court heard Palmer had been asked to leave the premises after abusing a staff member.
Outside he asked the complainant's brother, ''What are you looking at?'' and pulled a knife when the man confronted him.
The man then rang the complainant for back-up.
During the ensuing brawl, the complainant received a 20cm slash from his chest, under his left arm and into his back.
He was taken to hospital and required surgery the following day.
The Crown argued Palmer had been aggressive inside the club and was looking for a fight.
Prosecutor Amanda Clarke said Palmer had finished what he started.
But the accused man's barrister argued his client had not deliberately caused the injury.
In the witness box, Palmer said he did not want to fight.
He said the complainant had punched both himself and his brother.