SA: SA magistrate in assault case 'met Foley'

AAP General News (Australia)
08-12-2011
SA: SA magistrate in assault case 'met Foley'

By Sarah Malik and Tim Dornin

ADELAIDE, Aug 12 AAP - The magistrate to preside at the trial of the man accused of
assaulting former South Australian treasurer Kevin Foley has disclosed he met Mr Foley
at a publicity event.

The Adelaide Magistrates Court has been told that deputy chief magistrate Andrew Cannon
had asked Mr Foley for state government funding for a tall-ships organisation when he
encountered the minister at a press conference.

The date of the event was not revealed.

The court also heard that Dr Cannon had no intention of disqualifying himself from
the case because of the encounter.

"But in the interests of transparency he asked me to bring that to your attention,"

magistrate Maria Panagiotidis told the court on Friday.

Ante Tony Grgich has been charged with assaulting Mr Foley, now the police minister,
outside a city nightclub in November last year.

Mr Foley claims he was king hit and left with bruising and a black eye from the incident.

Several months after the attack, and after another incident in a city restaurant, an
emotional Mr Foley stepped down as deputy premier and treasurer.

He continues to serve in Premier Mike Rann's ministry but speculation is mounting over
whether he will stay on when Education Minister Jay Weatherill takes over as premier in
October.

Mr Weatherill has declined to guarantee him a cabinet spot and Mr Foley is yet to make
his intentions clear.

The trial against his alleged attacker has been set down for three days in September.

The court was told on Friday that the defence and prosecution had agreed to call 14 witnesses.

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KEYWORD: FOLEY

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