Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Trial set for alleged hay hooker

Man accused of gouging boss in the neck

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By TERRY SMITH
Express Staff Writer

Gavin W. Freeman

A jury trial has been set for July 29 for a Rupert man accused of gouging his boss in the neck with a hay hook.

Gavin W. Freeman, 28, was arraigned on a felony charge of aggravated battery Monday in Blaine County 5th District Court in Hailey. He pleaded not guilty.

Freeman allegedly used a hay hook, a metal hook about 6 inches long connected to a handle, in an altercation with his employer on Feb. 2 in the Cold Springs area south of Ketchum. Mark William Clifford, 37, was treated for a neck wound at St. Luke's Wood River Medical Center and released later that day.

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The Blaine County Sheriff's Office reported at the time that Freeman was working for Clifford removing snow from roofs. Freeman apparently broke the handle on a snow scoop and Clifford fired him and told him he had to pay for the damage. The sheriff's office further reported that Clifford was wounded after a fight erupted between the two men.