Wellington, Nov 27 NZPA - The Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal by a Kawerau builder, jailed for seven years for attacking a policeman.

Aaron Wi, 34, was sentenced in Tauranga District Court last September after a jury found he had viciously attacked a policeman trying to calm him down in the drunken aftermath of a wedding.

The jail term was for wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

On a further charge of aggravated assault on a second constable, Wi was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment -- to be served concurrently.

Wi appealed his conviction on the ground that he should have been permitted at his trial to adduce evidence that he had no convictions for any criminal offence involving violence.

The Supreme Court ruling released today said that such evidence should have been allowed to go before the jury, but its absence could not have affected the jury's verdict and there was no miscarriage of justice.

NZPA WGT nb