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An Australian Football League player has been told that only ‘sheer luck’ saved him from killing a man.
Richmond Tigers defender Noah Balta, 25, has pleaded guilty to an assault in Mulwala in the NSW Riverina on December 30, which left another man in hospital with a head injury following the incident in a pub car park.
The victim was pushed to the ground and repeatedly punched during the alleged assault, with police prosecutor Jason Tozer telling the court that his client was fortunate not to have been have left with more serious injuries.
“Your Honour can see he becomes fully airborne and travels a metre or a metre-and-a-half,” Tozer said. “It is only sheer luck that his head did not make contact with that concrete.”
The CCTV footage shows the defender rushing into an altercation between a group of men and pushing one man to the floor before repeatedly punching the victim. Balta pleaded guilty to a single count of assault, which could lead to a five-year prison sentence.
In court, character references described Balta as a “kind, gentle giant” but he admitted to drinking a significant amount of alcohol on the day of the incident and reacted to seeing his younger brother in a confrontation.
“It’s quite clear this offence is completely and utterly out of character for Mr Balta,” defence lawyer Belinda Franjic said.
The player had shown genuine remorse for his actions and had sought professional help, including courses, to address the behaviour that led to the incident, Ms Franjic said.
The AFL star had quickly admitted the assault and pleaded guilty, although he initially told police he had only punched the victim three or four times. “That might not have been completely accurate,” his barrister said.
Balta was handed a four-match ban by Richmond for the incident but Tozer hit out at the “minimal punishment”.
“The action taken by the club is so minimal as to be irrelevant,” Tozer said. “The court must send a message to the community that this type of conduct is unacceptable no matter who you are.”
Balta is due to be sentenced on April 22.
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Richmond Tigers defender Noah Balta, 25, has pleaded guilty to an assault in Mulwala in the NSW Riverina on December 30, which left another man in hospital with a head injury following the incident in a pub car park.
The victim was pushed to the ground and repeatedly punched during the alleged assault, with police prosecutor Jason Tozer telling the court that his client was fortunate not to have been have left with more serious injuries.
“Your Honour can see he becomes fully airborne and travels a metre or a metre-and-a-half,” Tozer said. “It is only sheer luck that his head did not make contact with that concrete.”
The CCTV footage shows the defender rushing into an altercation between a group of men and pushing one man to the floor before repeatedly punching the victim. Balta pleaded guilty to a single count of assault, which could lead to a five-year prison sentence.
In court, character references described Balta as a “kind, gentle giant” but he admitted to drinking a significant amount of alcohol on the day of the incident and reacted to seeing his younger brother in a confrontation.
“It’s quite clear this offence is completely and utterly out of character for Mr Balta,” defence lawyer Belinda Franjic said.
The player had shown genuine remorse for his actions and had sought professional help, including courses, to address the behaviour that led to the incident, Ms Franjic said.
The AFL star had quickly admitted the assault and pleaded guilty, although he initially told police he had only punched the victim three or four times. “That might not have been completely accurate,” his barrister said.
Balta was handed a four-match ban by Richmond for the incident but Tozer hit out at the “minimal punishment”.
“The action taken by the club is so minimal as to be irrelevant,” Tozer said. “The court must send a message to the community that this type of conduct is unacceptable no matter who you are.”
Balta is due to be sentenced on April 22.
Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Continue reading...
