Allegations Justice Geason flew into a rage over text messages between his ex and another man

A friend of the alleged victim of Justice Greg Geason has told a court of her shock at seeing the extent of bruising on the woman’s body.

Gregory Geason leaves the Hobart Magistrates Court. Picture: Chris Kidd

The former partner of Tasmanian Supreme Court judge Gregory Geason had “significant” bruising over her chest and arms in the days after he allegedly attacked her inside their home last year, two witnesses have told a Hobart courtroom.

Justice Geason has pleaded not guilty to common assault, and emotional abuse or intimidation against a woman, over the course of nine months in 2023.

On Wednesday, on the third day of a contested hearing in the Magistrates Court, two of the complainant’s friends gave separate evidence about the woman’s physical and emotional state during a visit to their homes last November.

The first witness told the court that although the complainant had texted her photos of the bruising prior to the visit, she had been taken aback to see the injuries in-person.

“I was shocked [because] there were plenty of them,” the friend said.

“She was still in shock.

“When I went to hug her, I had to do it very lightly because she was still in a great amount of pain.”

The woman gave evidence that the complainant told her there had been an altercation with Mr Geason, and that is where the bruises had come from.

Justice Gregory Geason leaves court on Monday 15th June 2024. Picture: Linda Higginson.

The second friend recalled the ongoing emotional impact the alleged attack appeared to be having on the complainant.

“She was traumatised, shaking, was very upset and had significant bruising on her upper arms and chest,” the witness said.

Earlier in the day, the complainant gave evidence that Justice Geason had flown into a jealous rage on the evening of 31 October last year, after learning she had sent text messages to a male colleague.

During cross-examination from Justice Geason’s lawyer, Tom Percy KC, the witness was asked if she had deleted the messages because she knew their existence would upset her partner.

“Yes because he didn’t like me having any contact with males at all, including a colleague,” the woman told the court.

“I was trying to calm him down because I didn’t want to spark off another fight.”

The woman claimed Justice Geason had then pushed her forcibly, causing her to fall and strike her head on a mantelpiece in the living room.

The complainant rejected suggestions from Mr Percy that she fell over due to her own intoxication, or that Justice Geason had been merely “visibly upset” by the texting revelation.

“He was in a rage, which I’d seen a number of times,” the woman responded.

The court also heard evidence from the complainant’s teenage son, who recalled a surprise interaction with Justice Geason on a public footpath in Canberra last year.

The son told the court that he had been in possession of his mother’s AirPods at the time, and was aware that their location could be tracked remotely.

“I had just come out of the gym and was getting some dinner,” the witness said.

“I was crossing the road and I saw Mr Geason look back at me. We made eye contact.

“He looked pretty shocked.”

The son told the court he was aware of a restraining order against Mr Geason, and subsequently made a statement to police about the incident.

The case is being presided over by Victorian Deputy Chief Magistrate Susan Wakeling, who appointed after it was found that all Tasmanian magistrates could not.

Melbourne-based Crown prosecutor Neill Hutton is representing the state.

The hearing continues on Thursday.

Originally published as Allegations Justice Geason flew into a rage over text messages between his ex and another man