Young Liberal Xavier Boffa allegedly glassed ex-friend Bernard Kusay after argument in Adelaide pub

A court has heard bizarre details of an “ungentlemanly” argument that caused a Young Liberal to allegedly glass an ex-mate in an Adelaide pub.

A prominent Young Liberal was left with “a scar like Harry Potter” after an “ungentlemanly” former friend struck him with a glass, and threw a second at his head after an argument, a court has heard.

On Monday, Benedict Kusay told the Adelaide Magistrates Court he had been assaulted

by fellow Young Liberal Xavier Boffa after the group’s annual conference in Adelaide in 2019.

He said Mr Boffa had a “heated verbal exchange” with one of his friends and, when he moved to intervene, had patted his cheeks in a condescending manner.

“With my half-drink I had left, I sloshed at him to indicate he had done an ungentlemanly act, and I was responding with an ungentlemanly act,” he said.

“I said Xavier would have to shave his head to attach the electrodes when he was in (the mental hospital).

“I got hit with a glass two seconds later … it was aimed at my forehead … I’ve now got a scar like Harry Potter. My turtleneck was filling up with blood.”

Xavier Boffa outside the Adelaide Magistrates Court. Picture: Sean Fewster.

Mr Boffa, 27, of Melbourne, is an Australian Liberal Students Federation past president.

He has pleaded not guilty to one aggravated count of committing an assault that caused harm, and faces a maximum three-year prison term if convicted.

The charge arises from an alleged incident at the Elephant British Pub in July 2019 when Mr Boffa allegedly threw a glass tumbler at Mr Kusay’s head.

Prosecutors allege that caused a laceration requiring hospital treatment and three staples.

The case has had a tortured passage through the court system thanks to dispute over whether it would go ahead and Covid travel bans.

Young Liberal and alleged assault victim Benedict Kusay.

Mr Kusay receiving treatment for injuries allegedly caused by Mr Boffa. Picture: Supplied.

Opening the trial on Monday, police prosecutors said Mr Kusay and a friend had travelled to Adelaide for the Australian Liberal Students Federation’s annual conference.

They said Mr Boffa had approached the duo and a friend at the pub, where post-conference drinks were being held, as they sat in a booth.

“There was a heated verbal exchange between Mr Boffa and the friend, and Mr Kusay stood up to intervene,” they said.

“Mr Boffa then touched and grabbed Mr Kusay’s cheeks in a condescending manner … Mr Kusay was confused by this and sat back down.

“As he did, Mr Kusay threw the liquid from his glass at Mr Boffa and made a nasty comment.

“Mr Boffa responded by stepping forward and thrusting his upright spirits glass at Mr Kusay in a jabbing motion, causing a laceration to his skull.”

They said the glass, which caused a 3cm laceration to his skull, landed in Mr Kusay’s lap.

“Mr Kusay looked back toward Mr Boffa and saw him with a second glass, which he threw with force in his direction … it missed him,” they said.

In his evidence, Mr Kusay said he had not expected Mr Boffa to be at the conference and did not know he had been invited.

“I knew him very well from Melbourne University … I made a lot of effort to get to know Xavier,” he said.

“That relationship faded away due to the fact that Xavier’s conduct was somewhat dubious over the years I knew him … it turned to antipathy.”

In cross-examination, Luke Officer, for Mr Boffa, suggested the incident did not occur the way Mr Kusay claimed.

He suggested there was neither a glassing nor a thrown glass, and Mr Kusay’s injury occurred when Mr Boffa “simply batted off” the glass that had been spilt on him.

He suggested the rift between his client and Mr Kusay had a different origin based on long-running animosity.

“You are factional rivals … you ran on a rival ticket (to him) … you do not see eye-to-eye politically with Mr Boffa,” he said.

Mr Officer suggested the duo’s rivalry including another verbal altercation at a Melbourne University Anzac Day bake sale.

He suggested there had been another alcohol-related conference incident between them years earlier, when Mr Kusay had “barged into” Mr Boffa’s hotel room saying “I want my pizza”.

Mr Kusay said that was incorrect.

“(That night) I was hoping to get just a few slices of the pizza I had contributed extensively to the purchasing of,” he said.

“The reason I’m here today is the fact someone hit me over the head with a glass … my antipathy for Xavier is based on that attack.

“I do not think that, factionally, we sit in separate chairs.”

The trial, before Magistrate Simon Smart, continues.