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NewsAccused denies tying, hitting in West Launceston attackCCBy Chris ClarkeUpdated October 11 2016 - 3:35pm, first published 1:37pmBy Chris ClarkeUpdated October 11 2016 - 3:35pm, first

published 1:37pmFacebookTwitterWhatsappEmailCopyAccused denies tying, hitting A MAN charged over his alleged role in a “humiliating and degrading assault” claims he was just an innocent

onlooker.

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50% off EOFY SaleAll articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperCrosswords, Sudoku and TriviaAll other regional websites in your areaContinue Jason Edward Richards

has been charged with serious assault offences and has pleaded not guilty.

His trial began in the Launceston Supreme Court on Tuesday.

It is alleged Mr Richards was one of three men who lured another man to a West Launceston shed one night in February 2014.

It was there the three men allegedly abused their victim, by forcing him to wear degrading clothes, including a torn piece of underwear and a pink lace garment.

Prosecution has alleged Mr Richards:

Made a phone call to the man in attempt to lure him to the shedHelped tie the man to a post inside the shedPunched the manAssisted in tying a string to a gun that gave off the impression it

would shoot the man if he tried to free himself from the post But the defence claims Mr Richards was simply led astray and did not have the courage to intervene an attack carried out by the

other two men.

“We all like to think we have the courage and morales to intervene,” Mr Richards’s lawyer Evan Hughes said in his opening address.

“(Court) is not a place of morales. It’s about criminal culpability. 

“(Mr Richards) had nothing to do with what the other men were doing. He lacked courage.”

The jury heard allegations one of the other men spiked a drink and gave it to the alleged victim.

On the stand, the victim said he was then subjected to an attack involving the use of a machete.

Giving one word answers to questions and occasionally sentence-long explanations of what occurred, the victim suggested his drink may have been spiked with an amphetamine.

He said he received a glass with a clear-coloured liquid in it, which did not resemble water and did not taste like it either.

The alleged victim said he knew one of the men from childhood and he was a casual gardener for another. 

He said he knew Mr Richards only by association with the other two men only.

The trial is expected to hear evidence from one of the men accused of being there on the morning of the attack, along with forensic specialists, police and associates of the alleged victim

who witnessed his injuries.

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