A former Portsmouth official’s trial for allegedly assaulting a black bank manager has been postponed

HAMPTON — The trial of Aaron Goodwin, a former Portsmouth Police Department sergeant charged with allegedly attacking a local black bank manager in downtown Portsmouth in November, has been postponed until September.

Mamadou Dembele, vice president of Bangor Savings Bank, was the alleged victim in the Nov. 22 incident outside Gilley’s Diner. In December, Dembele went public with his allegations, which he and his lawyer Robin Melone described as a racist attack.

Goodwin’s trial was scheduled to begin Tuesday morning in Hampton District Court. However, the prosecutor requested a new trial date, citing a scheduling conflict, court documents show.

Strafford Assistant District Attorney Joachim Barth requested a new trial date because he was involved in the prosecution of an aggravated sexual assault that continued into Tuesday. Through his attorney, Goodwin agreed to postpone the trial.

The application also asked the court whether it had granted the request to bypass Dembele’s planned travel dates so that he could attend the trial.

Barth’s request for a continuance in the Goodwin case was granted by the court on Monday.

A new two-hour hearing in the Goodwin case is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Sept. 17 in Hampton Court before Judge Michael Zaino.

The 45-year-old Eliot, Maine, resident was charged in March by New Hampshire State Police with simple assault, a Class A misdemeanor, and disorderly conduct, which is a violation. Goodwin pleaded not guilty to both charges.

More: Aaron Goodwin’s ‘violent’ attack, racial slurs directed at family members detailed by prosecutor

This article originally appeared in the Portsmouth Herald: Former Portsmouth officer Aaron Goodwin’s assault trial has been postponed