Trial of hospital porter accused of head-butting woman begins

Tuesday 08 September 2020

The Royal Court trial of a hospital porter accused of head-butting a woman and pushing her head against railings last year has opened.

Terence Gouyette (61) is charged with committing a grave and criminal assault on a woman in the late hours of 26 June 2019.

Outlining the prosecution’s version of events yesterday, Crown Advocate Stephen Baker said that the woman was walking along Victoria Road in St Saviour when Mr Gouyette “barged” into her.

Words were exchanged and a scuffle began.

“A witness says that punches were exchanged, although both defendant and the complainant say that they didn’t throw any,” said Advocate Baker. “But whatever grappling there may have been, he head-butted her and threw her into railings, splitting her head, which needed five stitches in hospital.”

Pictured: The grave and criminal assault is alleged to have happened in Victoria Road.

Taking the witness stand, the woman said: “I was on my phone, walking slowly. I had my phone out to message friends to find out where they were. The message did not get sent.

“While I was walking slowly to the bus stop, I noticed someone walking towards me. He barged into me and knocked the phone out of my hand and we started having words.

“I said, ‘Watch where you’re going.’ He told me the pavement was big enough for two people to pass and we started to argue.”

The women then claimed that Mr Gouyette head-butted and punched her and then grabbed her head and pushed it against nearby railings.

”I got head-butted and was on the floor, with my glasses knocked off. I ducked a punch, I was trying to defend myself. The next thing, my head was smacked and I was seeing stars. I also noticed some blood coming from my forehead.“

Pictured: Advocate Giles Emmanuel is defending Mr Gouyette.

Facing questions from his lawyer, Advocate Giles Emmanuel, Mr Gouyette denied that he had thrown any punches or head-butted the woman.

“I came home after having a curry with my son in town and found a girl hanging on my gate, drunk, swearing and cursing down the phone at someone.

“She did not notice me so I said, ‘Excuse me,’ and added that her swearing didn’t sound very ladylike. She didn’t like that and then started throwing punches at me."

Mr Gouyette told the trial that he raised his hands in defence and moved forward and to the left to avoid the punches. Her momentum, combined with her intoxication, caused her to fall on the railings and bang her head, he said.

He denied that he had lost his temper and said that the “at least” six punches he had received had left him concussed. 

Summing up the prosecution case, Advocate Baker said: “He came across her that night and he barged into her. Why didn’t he just cross the road or go to his back door? It is because he was angry and he made a mistake, which he is now trying to cover up.”

For the defence, Advocate Emmanuel said: “Mr Gouyette has never committed a criminal offence and has been a hospital porter for 42 years. Why would he assault her? Why would he do such a thing?”

On Monday, the 12-person jury heard both the prosecution and defence arguments and all witness accounts. 

This morning, Deputy Bailiff Robert MacRae will sum up the legal aspects of the case before the jury retires to attempt to reach a verdict.