‘Glassing’ charge against Young Liberal may be withdrawn
A past president of the Young Liberals alleged to have violently assaulted a fellow party member in an Adelaide pub earlier this year may have the charge against him withdrawn.
Xavier Boffa (right) appeared on Sky News with Andrew Bolt during his time as president of the Australian Liberal Students Federation.
Xavier Boffa, 2017-2018 president of the Australian Liberal Students Federation, was accused of throwing a glass at fellow Young Liberal Benedict Kusay, injuring his head, at the Elephant British Pub off Rundle Street in July.
Police charged him with assault causing harm.
Boffa’s lawyer, Luke Officer, told the Adelaide Magistrates Court this morning that the charge was contested and asked for the case to be adjourned to a pre-trial conference.
But the Police prosecutor said there was a question of “whether the matter will be continuing at all” because the alleged victim may “withdraw”.
Summarising the brief hearing, Magistrate Anna Jackson said “the defendant (Boffa) has requested a pre-trial conference but the prosecution has indicated the matter may not proceed”.
Kusay, 24, reportedly complained to Liberal Party officials after the alleged incident, writing: “At a drinks function on 5 July, a verbal disagreement turned into violence when Xavier Boffa (another party member) threw a glass at me.”
“The glass was thrown with great force and when it smashed it caused a head wound to me with lots of bleeding,” the complaint reads, according to a report in The Age.
“I had to seek emergency medical treatment at hospital … I also had to stay in the hospital overnight to receive treatment.”
Boffa rejected the allegations.
According to his personal website, Boffa worked for Victorian Shadow Attorney-General John Pesutto between 2015 and 2018.
He lives in Melbourne and did not attend court today.
The case has been listed for a pre-trial conference in October.
