Messaggio
da Pakeha_70 » 28 nov 2012, 17:21
The Judicial Officer held that the act of foul play was inherently dangerous, being a deliberate swinging of the arm, delivered with significant force, causing serious injury to the victim player, Bradley Davies, who was unsighted. However, the Judicial Officer found that the player had not intended to make contact with the victim player’s head.
In categorising the seriousness of the offence the Judicial Officer held that it was worthy of a top end entry point under the IRB’s sanctions table, and that the entry point should be 8 weeks. The Judicial Officer held that there were no aggravating factors. The Judicial Officer acknowledged the mitigating factors of acceptance of guilt by the player, his genuine remorse, as evidenced by his daily contact with the injured player, his exemplary disciplinary record, and his conduct throughout the hearing and imposed a suspension of 5 weeks.
The Judicial Officer heard submissions in detail as to when the suspension should end given that the player was entering the close season. The Judicial Officer received unreserved assurances from Ian Foster, Assistant Coach, New Zealand, the player and his legal representative that the pre-season matches to be played by the Highlanders during the weekends of 1st, 8th and 15th February all had significant and meaningful consequences for the player in accordance with IRB Regulation 17.
The player is accordingly suspended up to and including Sunday 24 February 2013, and has the right of appeal.