Nathan Gary Bulger was on trial before Judge Jeff Lantz in Summerside provincial court on Jan. 23.
He had pleaded not guilty to breaking the jaw of another man in what witnesses, during trial, described as an unprovoked sucker punch during a party last August.
Lantz, in making his decision Tuesday, detailed evidence given during trial.
The incident allegedly began as an argument between a friend of Bulger’s and male victim, who, as Lantz described it, shared animosity over a girl.
Those two men eventually ended up arguing and, as noted in the testimony of several witnesses, the victim was suddenly punched, unprovoked, on the side of the face by Bulger.
Witnesses for the Crown indicated several more punches were delivered while the victim was still standing and after he fell to the ground.
The victim, who suffered a broken jaw as a result of the blows, testified he didn’t know who had hit him and didn’t know Bulger.
Bulger, during his testimony, admitted to hitting the victim but did so in self-defense after the victim “jabbed” him, a defence that Lantz said Tuesday, based on evidence provided during trial, he didn’t believe.
“No one else saw this,” said the judge, who noted that he found the evidence of the defence witnesses all who indicated they didn’t see the victim touch Bulger, to be reliable. “It’s not believable.”
Bulger has no previous record.
His lawyer, Robert Rideout, requested that a presentence report be prepared prior to sentencing. A victim impact statement has been filed with the court.
Sentencing in the case was adjourned to May 21 at 10 a.m.
