A father-of-five has been fined after being found guilty of assaulting Sydney’s beloved identity and activist Danny Lim in a fiery and sometimes bizarre court appearance.
At Burwood Local Court on Monday, Ming Wiseman, 66, made a series of allegations against prosecutors and police – accusing them of framing him – and accusing Mr Lim of inflicting his own injuries – following an altercation at Strathfield train station on September 22. last year.
However, Magistrate Vivien Swain found that Wiseman did not act in self-defense during the incident after he was seen angrily approaching Mr Lim in the station concourse.
Mr Lim, who is known in Sydney for his sports billboards promoting peace, positivity and progressive political causes, was taken to Concord Hospital after the attack.
The court heard that Mr Lim suffered a red mark on his left eye after being punched by Wiseman while campaigning for the ‘Yes’ vote for the Voice referendum.
Ming Wiseman (pictured) has been found guilty of assaulting activist Danny Lim during an altercation at the train station last September
Mr Wiseman was arrested the following week at a home in Homebush West and charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
He pleaded not guilty and told the court that Mr Lim, who was 79 at the time, was the aggressor.
But he was convicted after a hearing on Monday.
CCTV footage in court showed Wiseman entering through the station gate, putting down his bag and shopping trolley, before becoming involved in a heated argument and pointing at Mr Lim, who was carrying a sandwich board.
Mr Lim told the court in his testimony that he heard someone approach him from behind and curse at him before he backed up against a wall.
The police prosecutor admitted that Mr Lim had kicked and tried to punch Wiseman.
Ms Swain discovered Wiseman punched Mr Lim in the face in the ensuing fight.
“He waved his right fist,” Mr Lim told the court, wearing sunglasses and a football jacket, adding that he was struck above his left eye.
Police body-worn footage shows Wiseman being arrested by police a short time later.
“I didn’t hit and he started first,” Wiseman further told officers in the body-worn footage played in court.
During Wiseman’s cross-examination of Mr Lim, he accused him of inflicting his own injuries.
“How did my eye become so bloody,” Mr Lim said.
“You did it to yourself,” Wiseman said.
“How can I hit myself?” Mr Lim snapped back.
Danny Lim was taken to hospital after the argument at the station
Mr Lim was not charged with any wrongdoing in connection with the attack.
On social media, Wiseman promotes his own political party, the Enjoy Share Party.
And on Monday, Wiseman accused Mr Lim of being a “disgrace to the Chinese community”.
However, Mr Lim noted that he had lived in Australia for 61 years and had been a citizen for 50 years.
Wiseman said he was angry about some of Mr Lim’s signs that criticized the government and police – including a former sign that read “Police CVN’T”.
However, Mr Lim denied they were offensive.
“Have you ever had a sign saying the police are c***s,” Magistrate Swain asked Mr Lim during his interrogation.
“It’s CVN’T,” Mr Lim replied.
Wiseman admitted he was angry when he approached Mr Lim but denied assaulting him and called the allegations an attempt to frame him. The public prosecutor denied these claims.
Danny Lim (pictured) was accused by his attacker of being a ‘disgrace to the Chinese community’ during fiery courtroom scenes on Monday
At one point, Wiseman had to be asked by Ms Swain not to shout while giving his evidence, as his testimony sometimes became heated.
The court heard that Mr Lim and Wiseman had been involved in another verbal argument at Strathfield Station earlier on the day of the incident.
And when the police prosecutor suggested his only motive in approaching Mr Lim was to assault him, Wiseman fired back: “That’s your imagination, you should be a director of a movie.”
Ms Swain discovered that Wiseman was the aggressor and that he had hit Mr Lim.
“I am satisfied that there is no reasonable possibility that his conduct was necessary to defend himself,” she said.
Wiseman was convicted and fined $200.
Ms Swain also made an 18-month AVO against Wiseman to protect Mr Lim.
Danny Lim is known in Sydney for his campaign for peace and love in the community