Mulipola sentenced for assault
June 26 2008
Highlanders' winger Lucky Mulipola has been sentenced to 180 hours of community work and is to pay NZ$5000 ($3,800) emotional harm reparation for a one-punch assault on a man in Dunedin.
Ioakimo Lucky Mulipola, 25, was sentenced in Dunedin District Court on Wednesday after earlier admitting assaulting the man, whose name was suppressed, on April 5.
The incident happened at about 5am after an associate of Mulipola approached the victim and began to berate him.
Judge Paul Kellar said the victim tried to defuse the situation. Mulipola punched the side of the victim's face, causing him to fall backwards on to the road. He received cuts to his mouth and elbow, a loose tooth and concussion.
Counsel David Robinson said Mulipola accepted he was intoxicated at the time and regretted what had happened.
At a restorative justice conference, Mulipola accepted full responsibility and expressed genuine remorse and willingness to repair some of the harm done.
He was having counselling for both his underlying alcohol issue and dealing with situations of confrontation.
Mulipola acknowledged the consequences for the victim and offered a NZ$5000 payment for emotional harm.
For Mulipola there were likely to be further adverse consequences beyond what the court imposed, Mr Robinson said.
Mulipola was contracted to the rugby union and his contract carried sanctions for misconduct, so it was an employment issue.
Judge Kellar said the consequences of just one punch could be "very severe indeed".
For assault, Mulipola was convicted, sentenced to 180 hours' community work and ordered to pay NZ$5000 ($3,800) emotional harm reparation.
Mulipola was also up for sentence on convictions for disqualified driving (near his St Clair home), and giving false information as to his name and address. That offence happened about seven hours after the assault.
The driving offence brought 180 hours of community work (concurrent with the assault term) and a 12 months' driving disqualification.
He was convicted and discharged for giving false details.