Two men have been cleared over allegations of a baseball bat bashing outside a Civic bar that left a man needing about 30 stitches in his head. A jury acquitted Srbko Borovina and Petar Dimic, both aged 29, of attacking a man outside the Tongue and Groove bar on Genge Street in the early hours of January 22, 2011. Mr Borovina was accused of hitting the victim in the back of the head numerous times with a baseball bat, while Mr Dimic had allegedly punched and kicked him. The man was left unconscious and with serious head injuries. The jury retired about 12.30pm Friday and took about six hours to reach a verdict. There were audible sighs of relief in the public gallery when the not guilty verdicts were delivered, and Mr Borovina and Mr Dimic shook hands. Barristers Jack Pappas and Anthony Hopkins embraced their clients once the court was adjourned. The defence team had claimed the pair acted in self-defence, after they were set upon by the victim and his accomplices. They had argued the complainant was out in Civic for revenge, after an earlier fight outside the now-closed Holy Grail left a friend in hospital with a broken jaw and loose teeth. Christopher Knaus
Two men have been cleared over allegations of a baseball bat bashing outside a Civic bar that left a man needing about 30 stitches in his head.
A jury acquitted Srbko Borovina and Petar Dimic, both aged 29, of attacking a man outside the Tongue and Groove bar on Genge Street in the early hours of January 22, 2011.
Mr Borovina was accused of hitting the victim in the back of the head numerous times with a baseball bat, while Mr Dimic had allegedly punched and kicked him.
The man was left unconscious and with serious head injuries.
The jury retired about 12.30pm Friday and took about six hours to reach a verdict. There were audible sighs of relief in the public gallery when the not guilty verdicts were delivered, and Mr Borovina and Mr Dimic shook hands.
Barristers Jack Pappas and Anthony Hopkins embraced their clients once the court was adjourned. The defence team had claimed the pair acted in self-defence, after they were set upon by the victim and his accomplices.
They had argued the complainant was out in Civic for revenge, after an earlier fight outside the now-closed Holy Grail left a friend in hospital with a broken jaw and loose teeth. Christopher Knaus
