Freeman’s barrister Bill Walsh maintains his client was acting in self defence and is pleading not guilty to the assault charges.

Police say Freeman and the victim had known each other for 15 years while they worked at the Department of Primary Industries and mixed socially with their respective partners.

Police facts in the case say when Freeman approached the victim in the car park in July last year with “teeth gritted”, the victim, fearing for his safety, took a fish stunner from the well of his car door and struck the accused twice after Freeman grabbed him on the back.

The men wrestled on the ground and Freeman pulled the fish stunner from the victim and struck him up to five times around the head. The victim sustained a fractured skull and Freeman lacerations to his head.

Police say Freeman then walked back into the clubhouse at Duntryleague with the fish stunner still in his hand, telling staff, “Call the police, I have assaulted him”.

Facts before the court state the bad blood between the two men started in 2009 when the victim confided in Freeman he was having marriage difficulties.

According to police, unknown to the victim, Freeman had started contacting the victim’s wife and over time this resulted in two altercations between Freeman and the victim in the workplace at the DPI, a note sent to the wife of the accused about an alleged affair, and also a telephone call claiming Freeman and the victim’s then ex-wife had been seen together at Campbells Corner.

The victim has denied sending the note, telling police he also received a note on his car saying his wife and Freeman were away together in Newcastle.

Police say both the accused and the victim’s wife denied having an affair.

On July 18 last year when the victim was dining with friends at Duntryleague police say Freeman went to the club and sat at the bar looking over at the victim.

According to police the victim told his female friends, “The grub is in the club”, and when Freeman visited the men’s toilets he told a witness, “I’m gonna sort this bloke out”.

He told another witness before leaving the clubhouse, “It’s a good thing he was leaving with the three girls ’cause I would have him tonight”, but was told by the witness, “Don’t be bloody ridiculous - don’t do anything stupid”.

According to police the victim was followed home and, concerned for his welfare, drove back through Duntryleague to his sister’s house where he was visibly shaken and fearful.

The following day the victim played his regular round of golf at Duntryleague and stayed on.

At 5.10pm Freeman walked into the club and sat at the bar until 6.30pm when he left and dropped off a friend.

The victim left the club at 8.30pm and walked to his car. He opened the door before seeing an agitated Freeman approach.

Freeman began ranting at the victim, according to police, and grabbed him, before the victim reached for the fish stunner.

Freeman is charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, reckless grievous bodily harm and yesterday Director of Public Prosecutions solicitor Michael Fahy added another charge of causing grievous bodily harm to a person with intent.

Magistrate Terry Lucas told Freeman on Monday in Orange Local Court he believed a jury “reasonably instructed could reasonably convict”.