Man cleared of smashing car window

A man accused of wielding a weapon before smashing a car window, covering a baby in shattered glass, has been found not guilty.

After a little more than an hour of deliberation on Thursday, a jury of six men and women unanimously found Hayden James Stanley, of Taranaki, not guilty on charges of possessing an offensive weapon and endangering transport.

The trial before Judge Chris Sygrove began on Wednesday at the New Plymouth District Court and was set down for two days.

Crown prosecutor Stephanie Simpkin had alleged that on January 9, 2017, Stanley, 33, and two others pulled up in front of the complainant, Cody Robinson, as he was parked on the side of a road just north of Midhirst.

It was alleged that a baseball bat was held up to Robinson and a group of people he was travelling with in a threatening manner.

Robinson, who was with his partner and their baby at the time, drove off.

Later that evening in Stratford a person walked out into the middle of the road and smashed the side window of Robinson’s car as he drove near the Countdown supermarket, shattering glass over his partner and their baby.

Defence lawyer Nina Laird said while her client was at the scene he had not committed any of the offences.

Stanley had not at any time had a bat or a pole in his possession, she said.

She also said he had not smashed the window.

Following the trial, Laird said the jury had found Stanley not guilty based on the issue of identifying him as the offender.