No conviction for blended martial arts fighter who fought again exterior get together
Ross Giblin/Stuff
A choose accepted a conviction would have an effect on the development profession of a blended martial arts fighter. (File picture)
A blended martial arts fighter who knocked out a person whothrew a punch at him exterior a Wellington get together has been discharged with out conviction.
James Craughwell, 28, an apprentice builder and blended martial arts fighter, pleaded responsible to assaulting a person within the suburb of Miramar on September 26, 2021.
Within the Wellington District Courtroom in December, Decide Peter Hobbs gave Craughwell the discharge with no conviction he had requested for however refused to suppress his title.
The court docket was informed the cost had already had an influence on his sporting profession.
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The choose stated it was incongruous {that a} sport selling violence could be involved a few conviction for assault.
However defence lawyer Lucie Scott stated Craughwell was “semi-professional”, it was a self-discipline and promoters wished to find out about any convictions. He had pulled out of occasions whereas the fees have been pending, she stated.
A police abstract stated Craughwell and the sufferer had been at a comparatively small get together in Miramar. About 3.30am on the driveway, the sufferer walked in direction of Craughwell and threw a punch at him. Craughwell hit again, knocking the person unconscious, and he fell to the bottom.
The sufferer’s nostril was damaged, his eye socket fractured, and he had a minimize above his eye that left a scar and nerve injury.
Police accepted Craughwell acted in self-defence, however with extreme pressure. Sergeant Michael Stonyer stated at 28, Craughwell was within the twilight of a localised sporting profession.
A printed rating of Australia and New Zealand skilled blended martial arts heavyweight fighters lists Craughwell as twenty fourth out of 25.
The choose stated the accidents had a big influence on the sufferer together with the emotional and monetary value.
The sufferer didn’t need the compensation or restorative justice assembly that Craughwell provided.
In granting the discharge with out conviction, the choose stated he was glad Craughwell’s constructing profession prospects could be negatively affected out of all proportion to the seriousness of the offending. If it had been an unprovoked assault Craughwell wouldn’t have been discharged with out conviction, he stated.
The choose didn’t settle for a conviction would have an effect on Craughwell’s sporting prospects.
Craughwell had taken counselling, and carried out group work on the health club the place he educated.
The counselling and group work have been most likely what would have been imposed if he had been convicted and sentenced, the choose stated.
Each Craughwell and the sufferer had supporters in court docket and the choose stated there was a substantial rift between the 2 teams on account of what had occurred.
Some feedback on social media concerning the assault had clearly been inaccurate, the choose stated.
He refused to suppress Craughwell’s title however made an interim order to whereas an attraction was thought of. Stuff has confirmed no attraction was filed.
