A soldier is on trial at Linton Military Camp facing court martial for allegedly assaulting and threatening a higher-ranked colleague after a December 2024 cocktail function at Waiouru Military Camp.
The serviceman denies three charges: threatening to kill, using violence against a superior, and using insulting language to a superior officer. Three other charges were withdrawn after an application by defence lawyer Deborah Davies.
The Crown alleges the soldier lay in wait for the senior colleague following the 6 December cocktail function, motivated by anger over a kiss between the officer and the soldier's partner at an earlier event in 2024.
Giving evidence on Wednesday, the soldier said he ran into the colleague by chance and told him "Hey, look, I'm not too happy that you kissed my partner". He said the officer's partner became aggressive and pushed him in the chest, forcing him to defend himself. He denies any physical contact with the senior colleague and says he made no death threats beyond possibly suggesting violence if a fight occurred.
The soldier said he went to the function to support his partner and drank little because his dog was having puppies at home. He told the court he had no idea of the officer's rank as everyone wore civilian clothing.
The senior colleague testified on Monday that the soldier's partner initiated the kiss earlier in the year, while the partner gave contradictory evidence on Wednesday saying the officer kissed her. Judge Gerard Winter and a panel of three military members are hearing the case, with closing arguments expected on Thursday. Interim suppression orders are in place for the soldier and witnesses.