September decision expected in domestic violence case of Tas judge Gregory Geason

The fate of Tasmanian judge Gregory Geason will likely be sealed in September, when an interstate magistrate is expected to decide whether he is guilty or not of domestic abuse. Latest from court>

A decision is expected in September as to whether or not Justice Gregory Geason is guilty of domestic abuse against a former partner. Picture: Chris Kidd

The fate of a Tasmanian judge will likely be sealed in September, when an interstate magistrate is expected to decide whether he is guilty or not of domestic abuse.

Evidence concluded on Tuesday in the contested hearing of Gregory Peter Geason, 63, after seven days before the Hobart Magistrates Court.

Justice Geason has pleaded not guilty to one count of common assault, and one count of emotional abuse or intimidation against a former partner, who cannot be named for legal reasons, over six months in 2023.

On Tuesday morning, Justice Geason’s ex-wife Gillian Fiddy – with whom he remains close – gave evidence in his defence.

She told Victorian magistrate Susan Wakeling she had been married to Justice Geason for 20 years, and that they had two children together.

Ms Fiddy said she had introduced Justice Geason and the woman in question, thinking they would get along, amid concern for her ex-husband, who she said was “broken-hearted” after a recent break-up.

She said the woman “drank a lot, a concerning amount”, and that she’d witnessed her drunkenly walking into things, or tripping or falling over.

Ms Fiddy said the woman showed her bruising on her arms after an alleged assault by Justice Geason on October 31.

“I was shocked,” she told the court.

Tom Percy KC arriving at the Hobart Magistrates Court on Tuesday. Picture: Chris Kidd

“When she was talking to police, she said that Greg banged her head into the mantelpiece.”

Ms Fiddy said she was asked to write a statement in support of the woman, but she chose not to, as she was “concerned about the motives” and “bias”.

One of Justice Geason’s close friends, Beven Schwaiger, also gave evidence about his interactions with the pair last year.

“She presented as a very confident woman, very assertive, and they seemed to be very much in love, in lust, I use that term as they were very amorous,” he said.

“Greg seemed to be very much in love and very doting on her.”

Mr Schwaiger also described the woman as a heavy drinker.

Earlier in the hearing, the woman in question gave several days’ of evidence from a remote witness room, alleging Justice Geason struck her to the chest and breasts up to eight times in a jealous rage before pushing her back onto a mantelpiece in his Battery Point home, causing her to “black out”.

An interstate emergency specialist diagnosed her with concussion a few days later.

Later, a forensic medicine specialist said the woman’s bruises were likely the result of an assault, and not self-inflicted or sustained accidentally.

Justice Geason has also denied tracking the woman using technology, subjecting her to hours of “venomous” verbal abuse after he became “nasty” while drinking, and demanding she sign over $300,000 of equity on her home to secure a house in Hobart together.

Melbourne-based prosecutor Neill Hutton and defence barrister Tom Percy KC have agreed to provide written submissions to Ms Wakeling by August 23.

It is expected Ms Wakeling, who was appointed to the case due to Justice Geason’s familiarity to Tasmanian magistrates, will deliver her decision between September 9 and 13.

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