Lehmann gives evidence in Hookes case

David Hookes threw two punches at a bouncer before he was allegedly knocked to the ground and suffered fatal head injuries, a court heard today. The altercation between Hookes and the bouncer occurred after Hookes had been thrown out of a Melbourne pub on January 18 this year.

Hookes, 48, died the next day from injuries suffered in the alleged assault. Zdavko Micevic, a 22-year-old bouncer, is charged with manslaughter and assault over the incident outside the Beaconsfield Hotel in St Kilda.

At the opening of Micevic's committal hearing in the Melbourne Magistrates Court today, Terry Forrest QC, the accused's lawyer, said his client would give evidence that Hookes had thrown two punches at him before he retaliated. Mr Forrest also said evidence would show that Hookes had a blood-alcohol content of 0.14 at the time of the incident.

The court heard Hookes and several members of the Victoria and South Australia teams had been celebrating at the Beaconsfield Hotel after a match that day at the MCG. Mr Forrest said witnesses would testify that the group became rowdy when asked to leave at closing time and Hookes, in particular, had argued with security staff.

The court heard that a local resident would give evidence that a group of up to 14 men was involved in a loud argument outside his house. He told magistrate Ian McGrane that one of the cricket group is alleged to have told a bouncer that his "head would roll tomorrow" and that "you won't have a job". The court also heard that a witness saw a group of men arguing and throwing punches outside the pub.

But Darren Lehmann, today's only witness, said that despite being in the pub and being close to the group outside, he hadn't seen anyone throwing "a violent series of punches" or noticed any boisterous behaviour. Lehmann presented a stoic defence to questioning about his role in the altercation with the bouncers and his observations of the night's events.

Lehmann repeatedly told the court he either hadn't seen various incidents described by Mr Forrest or could not recall what was said or done by other members of the group at almost any stage of the night. He could, however, remember how much he'd had to drink.

Asked by Mr Forrest if he'd had a lot to drink, Lehmann said he'd drunk only three beers and a vodka during the two-and-a-half hours he was at the pub. He'd also had two beers in the dressing rooms after the match and another at his team's hotel before leaving for the Beaconsfield. He said he didn't believe Hookes had drunk too much on the night.

Asked if Hookes had been argumentative with hotel staff, he replied that he couldn't recall. Lehmann gave the same answer when asked if he'd heard women who were with his group screaming and again when asked if a female with the group had jumped onto a bouncer's back.

While Lehmann agreed that he had telephoned for an ambulance, he had not seen how Hookes ended up on the ground or what he had been doing prior to being felled. In response to questioning by Mr Forrest, Lehmann denied he had collaborated with others before making a statement to police or that he had "sanitised" his evidence.

Mr Forrest earlier told the court that after being charged over Hookes' death, Micevic's house had been burned down, he had received death threats and his car had been vandalised. The Beaconsfield Hotel, which has since ceased trading, was also vandalised.

"Needless to say, the past 24 hours have been very difficult," Lehmann said. "However, it is all behind me now, and I'm looking forward to helping Australia win this Test series. The case is still before the courts, so it is inappropriate for me to make any further comment on the matter. As I have said though, it's great to now be back with the boys, and I'm really looking forward to getting out there on Thursday."

The committal hearing, which is scheduled for eight days, continues tomorrow.