Ice-cool and unphased during a sometimes firey cross examination by defence counsel John Tippett QC; alleged DV victim Leanne presented a polar-opposite in Darwin magistrate's court on Friday, to her emotionally unsettled accused.
Photographer and gallery owner Paul Arnold is facing charges of aggravated assault, deprive a person of personal liberty, unlawful stalking, engage in conduct that contravenes a DVO, and damage to property.
Sometimes reversing the court room roles herself, Leanne appeared to question the defence counsel at times with short-sharp cheeky replies, flustering Tippett at one stage.
Without access to the full transcript of the day; nor permission to voice-record proceedings, Mango hasn't been able to fully report on it, and has to rely on the vibe of the thing.
As of today however (Monday), I've paid my registration and should be accredited to access what I need.
Back to Friday's hearing last week; Leanne entered her fourth day straight in the witness box.
The characterisation of incidents starting off as a "conversation" by Leanne appeared to be a sticking-point between her and defence counsel Tippett at times, as the lawyer accused the alleged victim of being the aggressor.
Consistently questioning Leanne's state of mind during the incidents where some of the assault charges emerge from, defence counsel repeatedly asked the witness whether she was "angry" or "very angry" at multiple points.
Leanne continued to reaffirm she was "upset" and "not angry".
Defence counsel pressed ahead with characterising entire incidents as "conversations" over-and-over in a sarcastic tone, before the witness just seemed to give up and agree with him; providing the opportunity for Tippett to lord the description over the court.
It seemed a complex game where Tippett eventually came out on top; but I'm unconvinced it presented reasonable doubt on the witness testimony, on it's own.
Defence counsel proceeded to accuse Leanne of saying to Arnold: "Hit me, you know you want to."
Leanne replied: "Incorrect".
Defence counsel then called the alleged victim's head-butting allegation as: "Your imagination".
Leanne replied: "Incorrect" or "No".
Defence counsel asked: "What weight are you?" attracting a response: "Excuse me?" before an estimate of 70kg was eventually given for that period; as size-difference between the former couple appeared to be the point being made.
Defence counsel accused Leanne of "engaging in physicality from time to time" during the incidents, to which she replied: "Incorrect".
Mango's phone went off at 3.30pm in the court room during the grilling.
I initially looked at the bloke sitting next to me thinking: "idiot".
Two seconds later I realised it was my phone in my pocket.
I jumped up and apologised and left the court room. I figured it was quicker than fumbling around to switch the sound off.
Although I can't confirm it, secondhand information provided to me while I was outside; has the judge informing the court that she was neither "upset" nor "angry" [by my phone]; a reference to Tippett's flavour of questioning for the afternoon.
Needless to say, I was done for the day.
Checking the daily court listings, the matter appears to continue tomorrow (Tuesday 28th May).
We are The Mango Inquirer.
