NSW: Prima facie case established against Greg Bird - magistrate

AAP General News (Australia)
04-28-2009
NSW: Prima facie case established against Greg Bird - magistrate

SYDNEY, April 28 AAP - Former NRL star Greg Bird will soon learn his fate, with a Sydney
magistrate saying he is satisfied there is a case against him.

The 24-year-old footballer, who now plays in France, has denied glassing his girlfriend
Katie Milligan in the face.

He has pleaded not guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and to recklessly
wounding Ms Milligan at his Cronulla apartment in Sydney's south in August 2008.

Police allege Bird attempted to deceive them when he claimed his flatmate Brent Watson
was responsible for his girlfriend's injuries.

Bird has admitted a public mischief offence but has pleaded not guilty to making a
false accusation to police.

In Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday, Magistrate Roger Clisdell said the Director
of Public Prosecutions had established a case on all three charges to which Bird has pleaded
not guilty.

Mr Clisdell said while the case was circumstantial he only needed to be convinced that
the case had been established.

"When one looks at a circumstantial case, one has to look at the totality of the case
... from the evidence, I am satisfied that a prima facie case has been established."

Mr Clisdell will make a ruling on the charges later on Tuesday afternoon.

AAP sg/tdb/wjf/goc/mn

KEYWORD: BIRD UPDATE

2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.