Supreme Court judge Gregory Geason verdict handed down by interstate Magistrate

Tasmania Supreme Court judge Gregory Geason returned to court having been on trial for allegedly assaulting his former partner. Here’s the verdict.

Justice Gregory Geason at Hobart Magistrates Court. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Tasmanian Supreme Court judge Gregory Geason has been found guilty of both common assault, and emotional abuse or intimidation, in the Hobart Magistrates Court this morning.

Justice Geason, 63, had pleaded not guilty to both charges, which were alleged to have been perpetrated against a former partner over the course of nine months in 2023.

The case was heard by Victorian Deputy Chief Magistrate Susan Wakeling, who was appointed after it was found that no Tasmanian magistrate could.

Justice Gregory Geason leaves the Hobart Magistrates Court on Wednesday afternoon, October 16, 2024. Picture: Duncan Abey

In handing down her decision on Wednesday, Magistrate Wakeling found the complainant had been a reliable witness during her time on the stand during a seven-day hearing in July.

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

The woman said Justice Geason had struck her to the chest and breasts up to eight times, before pushing her, causing her to strike her head on a mantelpiece and “black out”.

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

Justice Gregory Geason at Hobart Magistrates Court. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

A forensic medicine specialist told the hearing that the woman’s bruises were likely the result of an assault, and not self-inflicted or sustained accidentally.

During cross-examination from Justice Geason’s lawyer, Tom Percy KC, the complainant was asked if she had deleted the text 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.”

During his time on the witness stand, Justice Geason claimed he had never hit or pushed the complainant, that “no punches were thrown”, and that he did not cause her to hit the back of her head on the mantelpiece.

Melbourne-based Crown prosecutor Neill Hutton represented the state.

Justice Geason appeared in court on Wednesday, represented by Hobart barrister Fabiano Cangelosi.