Fight ended with biting

Court hears how Christmas drinks led to a violent roadside bust- up

A TASMANIAN court has heard how a drunken car ride from a work function in December 2018 escalated from verbal fighting to biting.

Young Devonport woman Jessica Dean on Tuesday told a jury she was bitten on the face and back by her ex- boyfriend after an exchange of insults turned violent on the drive back to the city from a Christmas event in nearby Latrobe.

Bradley Frank Richards is standing trial in the Supreme Court in Burnie after pleading not guilty to two counts of assault over the alleged incidents on the side of the Bass Highway and again in Formby Rd, Devonport.

Ms Dean also claims she was dragged from the car and punched during the two alleged roadside assaults. She told the court she had first pulled over at an information bay before she was dragged from the car and a scuffle broke out on the side of the highway.

After travelling another kilometre or so, Ms Dean again pulled over.

She told the court Mr Richards had bitten her thumb and she had bit back.

From there, she claimed, her ex- boyfriend had bitten her on the back and twice on the face.

She claimed she was also dragged from the driver’s seat out the passenger door after which she hit her head on the road and lost consciousness.

The pair got back into the car and she drove towards the police station, parked and ran in to get help.

She was taken to hospital by ambulance and stayed overnight. Her injuries were photographed the next day at the Devonport police station.

Under cross- examination, Ms Dean told the court the couple had been in an on- andoff relationship for about three months and had broken up that day.

Ms Dean had told the court she had consumed 12 whiskyand- dry pre- mixed cans through the day and evening.

She agreed with defence council Kirsten Abercrombie that she should not have been driving after consuming that much alcohol.

The alleged victim denied she had lunged and struck Mr Richards first.

A passenger in the car is due to give evidence later in the trial.