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WA man who beat girlfriend’s ex acquitted

AAPSouthern Gazette

A PERTH man who admitted beating his girlfriend’s former partner with a big stick but claimed self-defence has been acquitted of a serious assault charge.

Gatkath Kong went on trial in the District Court of WA this week over the early morning attack on Ali Warsame in November 2017, which left the drunk man with broken arms and facial injuries.

Mr Kong said he and his partner were asleep in bed when Mr Warsame persistently banged on the door of their East Victoria Park apartment, calling out her name.

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Mr Kong said he lied that the woman didn’t live there before closing the door in Mr Warsame’s face, then walked back to their bedroom with the intention of resuming sleep.

But Mr Warsame started banging on the kitchen window so hard the couple feared it would break, and continued yelling out for the woman.

Mr Kong said he went outside and directed Mr Warsame downstairs but became fearful when he reached into the bag he was carrying and said he had a knife.

“He told me ‘I’m going to stab you’. I was really scared,” Mr Kong testified on Wednesday.

He said he picked up a stick lying on the grass and hit Mr Warsame three times as he swung his arms.

“I was protecting myself from getting hit with whatever he had in his hand.”

Mr Kong was on Thursday found not guilty of an act endangering life, health or safety and showed no emotion as the jury handed down its verdict.