Terrence Leigh Stanley accused of assaulting Aquinas College

A teacher at a Gold Coast private school has appeared in court accused of assaulting an assistant principal in a row over an iPhone.

Terrence Leigh Stanley leaves Southport Courthouse.

A TEACHER punched or pushed the assistant principal at a Gold Coast private school over a dispute about an iPhone being confiscated, a court was told.

Terrence Leigh Stanley allegedly punched or pushed the Aquinas College assistant principal Joe Alexander in the chest after a dispute about a student’s confiscated iPhone on February 21 last year.

Stanley appeared in the Southport Magistrates Court today facing one count of assault occasioning bodily harm.

It is alleged Stanley confiscated a student’s phone and was then asked to speak to the deputy principal about it.

Mr Alexander entered the office after he heard yelling, the court was told.

It was then Stanley allegedly punched or pushed the assistant principal.

The court was told Stanley denies punching the man and claims he only pushed him after he felt someone grab his elbow during the dispute.

Terrence Leigh Stanley leaves Southport Courthouse.

Stanley’s barrister Ruth O’Gorman argued the charges should be thrown out because Stanley was not of sound mind when the assault occurred.

The court was told Stanley was diagnosed with a bipolar disorder in 2005 and had previously been hospitalised twice during depressive episodes.

Stanley was hospitalised for a third time in the Southport Private Hospital two days after the incident.

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Magistrate Jane Bentley determined after hearing evidence from mental health practitioners that Stanley was of sound mind when the alleged assault occurred.

Gold Coast University Hospital forensic psychologist Dr Ivor Hodgson said it was his opinion Stanley had “deprived capacity” due to his bipolar disorder.

Dr Hodgson said he spoke to Stanley in September 2018 and agreed it was his opinion Stanley did not understand what he was doing the day of the alleged assault.

“At the time his illness was such he didn’t have full recollection of events because of memory problems and because of confusion,” he said.

“He was also in a heightened emotional state.”

In a report Dr Hodgson said the version of events Stanley gave to him included memory of seeing flashing blue lights, seeing men coming towards him but not seeing faces. Stanley also told Dr Hodgson that witnesses told him he had been crawling on the floor, spitting and trying to speak.

But Gold Coast Health senior mental health clinician and court liaison Paul Gallagher said Stanley did not give those details when providing his version of events when he spoke to him in July 2018.

Magistrate Bentley said she was satisfied that due to Mr Gallagher’s experience he would have asked the questions to get all the relevant information from Stanley.

“I do not accept the factual basis on which (Dr Hodgson) based his opinion,” she said.

It was for that reason she found Stanley was of sound mind at the time of the alleged offence.

The matter was adjourned to August 20.

Outside court Mr Stanley declined to comment.