‘Framed’: Father found guilty of attacking Danny Lim in bizarre court hearing

A man who punched Sydney identity Danny Lim during a heated altercation at a Sydney railway station has escaped with a fine after an at times bizarre court hearing.

A father of five has been fined after he was found guilty of assaulting beloved Sydney identity and activist Danny Lim following a fiery and at-times bizarre count appearance.

Inside Burwood Local Court on Monday, Ming Wiseman, 66, fired a series of allegations against prosecutors and police - accusing them of framing him - and Mr Lim - accusing him of inflicting his own injuries - following an altercation at Strathfield train station on September 22 last year.

However, Magistrate Vivien Swain found that Wiseman was not acting in self defence during the incident after he was seen angrily approaching Mr Lim on the station concourse.

Mr Lim, who is well known around Sydney for sporting signs promoting peace, positivity and progressive political causes, was taken to Concord Hospital following the attack.

The court heard that Mr Lim suffered a red mark to his left eye after being punched by Wiseman while he was out campaigning for the Yes vote for the Voice referendum.

Mr Wiseman was arrested at a Homebush West home the following week and charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

He pleaded not guilty, telling the court that Mr Lim, who was then 79, was the aggressor.

But he was convicted following a hearing on Monday.

Ming Wiseman has escaped with a fine after being found guilty of assaulting activist Danny Lim at Strathfield Train Station last year. Picture: Instagram.

Danny Lim with one of his trademark signs. Picture: ibis Sydney Barangaroo/Instagram

CCTV played to the court showed Wiseman entering through the gates of the station, placing his bag and shopping cart down, before becoming embroiled in a heated argument and pointing at Mr Lim, who was wearing a sandwich board.

Mr Lim told the court in his evidence that he heard someone approaching him from behind swearing at him before he backed up against a wall.

The police prosecution conceded that Mr Lim kicked Wiseman and attempted to throw a punch.

Ms Swain found that Wiseman struck Mr Lim in the face in the ensuing melee.

“He swung with his right fist,” Mr Lim told the court, wearing sunglasses and a football jacket, adding he was struck above his left eye.

Police bodyworn footage captured Wiseman being stopped by police a short while later.

Danny Lim outside Burwood Local Court on Monday afternoon. Picture: NCA Newswire/Steve Zemek.

“I didn’t punch and he started first,” Wiseman further told officers in the bodyworn footage played to the court.

During Wiseman’s cross examination of Mr Lim, he accused him of inflicting his own injuries.

“How did my eye get so bloody,” Mr Lim said.

“You did it to yourself,” Wiseman said.

“How can I punch myself?” Mr Lim snapped back.

Mr Lim was not charged with any wrongdoing in relation to the attack.

On social media, Wiseman promotes his own political party, the Enjoy Share Party.

And in court on Monday, Wiseman accused Mr Lim of being a “disgrace to the Chinese community.”

Mr Lim, however, noted he had been in Australia for 61 years and had been a citizen for 50 years.

Wiseman said he was angered by some of Mr Lim’s signs which criticise the government and police - including one former sign which said “Police CVN’T”

However Mr Lim denied they were offensive.

“Have you ever had a sign that says police are c***s,” Magistrate Swain asked Mr Lim during his evidence.

“It’s CVN’T,” Mr Lim replied.

Danny Lim was assaulted inside Strathfield Railway Station. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Nicholas Eagar.

Wiseman admitted that he was angry as he approached Mr Lim, but denied attacking him, calling the allegations an attempt to “frame” him. The police prosecutor denied these claims.

At one point Wiseman had to be asked by Ms Swain not to yell while giving his evidence as his testimony at times became heated.

The court heard that Mr Lim and Wiseman had been involved in another verbal argument at Strathfield Station earlier the day of the incident.

And when the police prosecutor suggested his only motive when he approached Mr Lim was to attack him, Wiseman fired back: “That’s your imagination, you should be a director of a movie.”

Ms Swain found that Wiseman was the aggressor and that he had struck Mr Lim.

“I am satisfied there is not a reasonable possibility his conduct was necessary to defend himself,” she said.

Wiseman was convicted and fined $200.

Ms Swain also made an 18-month AVO against Wiseman for Mr Lim’s protection.

Originally published as ‘Framed’: Father found guilty of attacking Danny Lim in bizarre court hearing