A judge denies punching his former partner and pushing her into a mantelpiece, telling a court she was unsteady, fell and hit her head on a table.
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Tasmanian Supreme Court Justice Gregory Geason is facing a court hearing after pleading not guilty to assault and one count of emotional abuse or intimidation.
A woman, who cannot be named, claimed Geason became "enraged" on the night of October 31, 2023 over a photo she received on her phone from a male colleague.
She previously told the court Geason shook her, punched her in the chest and pushed her with such force she hit her head on a mantelpiece.
Geason, who concluded giving evidence in the Hobart Magistrates Court on Monday, said the woman never hit her head on the mantelpiece.
He also denied ever punching her or causing bruising allegedly found on her neck, ribs, shins, calves and knees.
Geason said he sat in a chair during the incident to be in a "safe space" and withdraw.
He said he used an open hand "stop" gesture as the woman approached him, but neither of the pair used any force.
"I didn't intend to connect with her (but) it was inevitable with her standing over me ... that there was a connection," he told the court.
Geason said the woman then turned to walk towards the kitchen but was unsteady on her feet because she'd had a lot to drink.
He said she brushed the mantelpiece with the left cheek while standing up, before "falling hard" and hitting her head on the side of the table.
"She was certainly affected by alcohol. That was obvious from her movement and her speech," Geason said.
Geason said the "logical explanation" for bruising on the woman's upper arms was his effort to grab her and help her to her feet after she fell.
He said he had to use "whatever force necessary" to get her up because she was a "deadweight".
Geason, who is on leave from his duties as a judge, told the court he went to bed and cried because he was upset with how he had handled the situation.
"I felt it was my poor response and immature response to a situation ... I felt I could have handled it much better," he said.
The court was told Geason made multiple internet searches for domestic abuse services and anger management support in the days after the alleged assault, before being charged.
He said one search for 'how to get domestic violence charges dropped - step-by-step guide' was "supposedly" in anticipation for what would happen.
"When you feel misjudged and wrongly accused you look for anything that would provide a thread of argument," he said.
The court was told Geason also searched 'the best songs to say you're sorry' and sent messages to the woman asking her not leave him and that he was a "f***wit".
He said he accepted responsibility for the incident escalating but not for the assault alleged by the woman.
Geason said he was strip-searched and held in a police cell for six hours after being charged.
The final two witnesses are expected to appear before the hearing on Tuesday.
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Australian Associated Press
