Jason Leslie Louis cleared of assault charge at Coffs Harbour court

A man accused of assault after birthday celebrations took a turn for the worse, has been cleared of wrongdoing after a Coffs Harbour magistrate dismissed the charge.

After a day of hearing witnesses give evidence, a Coffs Harbour magistrate has dismissed an assault charge that had been levelled at local man Jason Leslie Louis.

Mr Louis had been charged with common assault (domestic violence) after his birthday celebrations took a turn for the worse in December last year. He pleaded not guilty to the charge.

He always denied the allegation and when he took the stand to give evidence at Coffs Harbour Local Court on Thursday he said again “it never happened”.

“I have never assaulted a female in my life.”

He told the court he had done the complainant a “big favour” by opening up his house to her when she needed somewhere to live.

Mr Louis told the court he started his birthday on December 1 last year, like many other birthdays in years gone by, watching the movie Gone In Sixty Seconds.

After watching the film and having a few drinks he went to The Pier Hotel in the evening for a few beers.

Police prosecutor Jack Chaffey played security vision from the pub which confirmed this.

Mr Louis said he was not heavily intoxicated on the night.

“I wouldn’t be getting behind the wheel of a car but I definitely wasn’t drunk,” Mr Louis said.

The court heard there was a gathering at Mr Louis’ home that night and that he woke the next morning to find his place “had been trashed”.

He told the court he keeps a “very clean house” and when he asked the complainant to tidy up; things escalated.

“I called the police first,” he told the court in relation to a series of calls on December 2, during which he indicated he no longer wanted the woman living there.

Police attended the home in the Jetty area and that was when the assault allegation was made.

In summing up, Magistrate Ian Rodgers told the court he was not concerned about the “animated nature” of the complainant’s evidence and that ultimately the burden is on the prosecution to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the assault took place.

He told the court he was not satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt and found Mr Louis not guilty of assault and dismissed the charge.