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News
Peter Barry appears in court over assault
Peter Barry, the managing director at Jim Barry Wines in the Clare Valley, Australia, has appeared in court charged with assaulting another man.
Peter Barry receives his Winery of the Year award from Matthew Jukes (Photo: Jim Barry Wines)
Barry, who took over the running of the celebrated family winery in 1985, was charged after an incident at North Adelaide on June 30, in which he is alleged to have assaulted a man named John Litchfield.
Barry strenuously denies the charge.
The 57-year-old appeared in Adelaide Magistrates’ Court last week. He was not required to enter a plea to one count of assault causing harm.
His lawyer told the court that Barry strenuously denied the charge, Adelaide’s The Advertiser reported.
“My client will be pleading not guilty to this charge and I ask that he be released from bail. I don’t understand how this bail has occurred,” Barry’s lawyer said.
“He is 57 years old, has no previous convictions, and this is a matter that he disputes and intends to contest.”
The sitting magistrate refused to cancel the entire bail agreement, noting that Barry faced “reasonably serious charges”.
However he did remove a clause preventing Barry from leaving the state without permission of the court.
The revised bail agreement includes a condition that Barry not contact Mr Litchfield or three other witnesses.
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Barry’s defence said he hoped the charge would be dropped before the case came back to court.
The court did not hear details of the alleged assault.
Jim Barry Wines was established by Jim Barry in the late 1950s. In his role as MD, Barry has embarked on an expansion programme over the past three decades.
Jim Barry Wines now produces fruit from 200ha of vineyard holdings at 10 locations in the Clare Valley, along with a 14ha property in Coonawarra.
The company now exports to more than 25 countries and is known for producing premium Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Riesling wines.
Matthew Jukes named Jim Barry as his Winery of the Year in his 100 Best Australian Wines report 2016/2017.
Peter Barry made no comment as he left the court. He was requested to appear at a pre-trial conference in September.