MADRID: Bernard Tomic’s father John told a Madrid court he had acted in self-defence when he butted a member of the Australian world number 53’s coaching staff in the face at the weekend.
John Tomic, a burly former taxi driver who now coaches his son, and the man he tangled with, Bernard’s practice partner Thomas Drouet, both turned up for the hearing in the centre of the Spanish capital.
Drouet had a large dressing fixed to his nose with white surgical tape and a neck support, while Tomic appeared unscathed apart from a small cut above his right eye and the pair sat about 15 metres apart outside the courtroom. After consultation with the judge, it was decided that because Tomic disputed the charge of causing bodily harm the hearing could not take place and a further court appearance for the pair was scheduled for May 14, court officials said.
“I don’t feel guilty, I didn’t do anything wrong,” a weary-looking Tomic, whose light blue shirt had sweat circles under the armpits, told reporters.
He declined to comment further and left the court by a side entrance to avoid the reporters and television cameras. The incident took place on Madrid’s central Paseo de la Castellana street and Tomic was later taken into custody. REUTERS
