Wellington, Oct 12 NZPA - A senior public servant has been committed for trial facing an assault charge.

At a depositions hearing before two Justices of the Peace in Wellington District Court today, the man, whose name and occupation have been suppressed, denies the charge following an incident in central Wellington on August 29 last year.

Prosecuting lawyer Paul Dacre told the court the teenage victim had taken credit cards belonging to the defendant's wife and withdrawn $700 from an ATM, spending $200 of that on a cellphone, cigarettes and a bag.

On finding the victim the defendant grabbed him and walked him back to his car, threatening to break his legs if he tried to run away, Mr Dacre said.

Once in the car he punched the victim five or six times, with one blow hitting him in the head, he said.

When spoken to by police the man denied the threat and punches.

Four witnesses, including two teenagers and two shop staff from across the road, today gave varying accounts of seeing the defendant strike the victim about the upper body while the pair were in the car.

Some said they witnessed just a couple of blows while another said he saw up to 10 blows with a closed fist.

The defendant's lawyer, Mike Antunovic, questioned the witnesses' recollections and statements about the event.

What they thought were punches could have been the man trying to get the bag off the boy and lock the car doors.

The witnesses were spoken to by police earlier this year, up to nine months later. Some admitted they could have been hazy over exact details but all were adamant they definitely saw blows.

Mr Antunovic conceded there was a prima facie case to answer.

The defendant will next appear in Wellington District Court on January 19 for a jury trial call over.

Arguments for continued name suppression will be heard before a District Court judge before Christmas.

Justice of the Peace Dame Dawn Lamb said the defendant was a prominent person. If he was acquitted then the damage done by publicity would be irreversible.

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