Random rugby tackle injures bystander
A student’s drunken rugby tackle on the way to a toga party dislocated the victim’s hip, broke his pelvis, and caused nerve damage.
The victim was just a bystander, nothing to do with the group of students who had been drinking and were walking to the university for the party.
Tom Mitchell Brand, a 20-year-old Lincoln University student and sportsman, today pleaded guilty in the Christchurch District Court to a charge of assaulting a man in West Belt, Lincoln.
Through defence counsel James Rapley, Brand offered to pay $2000 to the victim as emotional harm reparations and Judge Stephen O’Driscoll convicted Brand and ordered that the payment be made today.
Brand has met the victim at a restorative justice conference and it appears the two may stay in contact.
Brand has also attended an alcohol awareness session and has written a letter of apology to the victim.
Mr Rapley said that Brand heard afterwards that the man had been injured in the tackle and the police were looking for the tackler. He then contacted the police.
Judge O’Driscoll said the victim was walking home when Brand rugby tackled him from behind and left him lying on the ground, badly injured.
He said: “It is clear you are remorseful. While it may not have been intended, the reality is that there were significant injuries to the victim.”
It had been an error of judgment by Brand, who has no previous convictions, at a time when he was affected by alcohol.
He imposed no penalty, other than the conviction and reparation payment.
Category: Focus
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