Liz Gunn assault hearing has colour, but no verdict

The trial of former TVNZ host Liz Gunn and her cameraman, Jonathan Clark, ended with the judge reserving her decision yesterday after more tense exchanges between the antivaccination campaigner and a prosecutor.

Judge Janey Forrest will deliver her decision at a hearing later this month, on whether Gunn is guilty of assault, and whether she and Clark are culpable for the charge of resisting arrest after a fracas at Auckland Airport on February 25 last year.

Gunn and Clark had intended to film the arrival of a family who had been kept in lockdown in Tokelau after refusing the Covid-19 vaccine.

Gunn’s band of several dozen loyal supporters again packed into the court yesterday, for the second day of the judge-alone trial.

Gunn’s lawyer Matthew Hague told the court Gunn had implied consent to touch the Auckland Airport security worker she is charged with assaulting because she was trying to get her attention.

The security worker, Anna Kolodeznaya, had told Gunn, 64, and Clark they did not have permission to film in the terminal.

Gunn then began questioning Kolodeznaya about her nationality and made repeated references to Nazi Germany.

Kolodeznaya earlier told the court Gunn had intimidated her and grabbed her arm forcefully, leaving her in pain.

Gunn and her cameraman were eventually arrested and charged after the dispute over filming escalated and airport staff called police.

Gunn broke down in tears when footage of her arrest was played in court.

She said the arrest was so forceful it caused her ligament damage and lasting pain and trauma.

Yesterday, Gunn began telling a story in court about how her father fought in World War II.

She was interrupted by Judge Forrest, who said what her father had said was hearsay.

Gunn said she was just trying to add context to her use of the term Nazi.

“It is a term of art for someone who is abusing the power that they have because of the power of their uniform,” Gunn said.

As the cross-examination continued, the exchanges became more tense between the controversial alternative media personality and the prosecutor, requiring Judge Forrest to repeatedly intervene.

Judge Forrest is set to deliver her decision at Manukau District Court on May 21.