Joseph Tapine was charged with recklessly causing grievous bodily harm and a back-up charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, a charge he pleaded not guilty to.

His legal team of Stuart Gray and Barrister Andrew Bright argued that Mr Tapine was acting in self defence when he punched a man after leaving the Prince of Wales Hotel.

The alleged victim was drunk and had previously taken drugs before he confronted his ex-girlfriend and Mr Tapine outside the hotel.

Magistrate Ian Cheetham ruled that in the circumstances, the prosecution had failed to disprove that one punch was not a reasonable response to the threat Mr Tapine perceived.

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IMAGE | Joseph Tapine, Andrew Bright and Stuart Gray arriving at court. Picture by Giselle Wakatama, ABC News.