A former Regina police officer on trial for assault will have to wait until December to learn his fate.

Robert Power, a five-year veteran of the force, was charged with assault causing bodily harm following an incident in May 2012.

Power, 40, kicked an intoxicated man in the stomach during an arrest outside a detox centre near downtown Regina.

Court heard the kick caused 44-year-old Edward Stonechild to fall backward and hit his head on a concrete wall. Stonechild was treated for a cut in hospital and was released later that day.

Power’s lawyer, Aaron Fox, said during closing arguments Thursday that his client had acted in self-defence.

Fox said surveillance video shows Stonechild charged at Power with a raised fist while the then police constable was putting on his protective gloves.

“It’s clear, I would suggest, that he was coming toward Const. Power with the intention of delivering a blow,” Fox told the court.

“The force used was reasonable in the circumstances…The charge should be dismissed.”

Fox added that Power kicked Stonechild to push him back, and that he didn’t intend to injure him. He said the kick was in line with his police training.

However, Crown prosecutor Bill Burge disputed the defence’s interpretation of the surveillance video.

“I would suggest that you will never see Mr. Stonechild with his fist raised, his arm cocked,” Burge said.

He said the video shows Stonechild’s hands were down when Power approached him and delivered the “forceful” kick.

Burge noted that Power initially told police he had pushed Stonechild, which led to his dismissal from the force for deceit.

He said Power lied about his actions because he realized that he should have used significantly less force.

Court heard that Power had arrested Stonechild for public intoxication several times in the past. He is on a Regina police list of chronic alcoholics, and is known to drink hand sanitizer, hair spray, rubbing alcohol and mouthwash.

According to CPIC, Canada's national police database, Stonechild is considered violent and contagious, having tested positive for both HIV and Hepatitis C.

An emergency medical technician at the detox centre testified that Stonechild’s behaviour was unpredictable at times, and that sometimes he can be verbally abusive and threatening.

A use of force expert from Vancouver who studied the surveillance video testified that Power used appropriate force given the situation.

A judge reserved his decision until Dec. 6.