New look at rugby player’s reprieve
The Crown Law Office has confirmed it will investigate the circumstances behind a promising rugby player being let off assault charges.
In August, rising rugby star Losi Filipo was discharged without conviction on four charges after an earlymorning assault on a group of four people, including two women, in Wellington last October.
Sentencing notes from Judge Bruce Davidson show he believed it was a ‘‘fairly serious case of street violence’’ but that the consequences of a conviction would be ‘‘out of all proportion to the gravity of the offence’’.
Yesterday, Crown Law confirmed it would investigate the case.
The move came after Christian lobby group Family First wrote to Solicitorgeneral Una Jagose requesting an appeal of the decision by Crown Law.
Assistant to Solicitor-general, Jan Fulstow, said the office was now ‘‘looking into the matter’’ but refused to make any further comment while the investigation was under way.
The judge, at sentencing on August 15, ruled that Filipo should be able to fulfil his potential, saying, ‘‘I have to ask myself, are the courts in the business of destroying people’s career prospects?’’.
Greg Morgan, 21, had been out with friend Olivia Samuels and two others when they were set upon by Filipo in central Wellington. He said he did not recall being punched, and barely even remembered waking up in hospital the next day.
Morgan, a builder, was off work for eight months and has only just returned to part-time duties as he continues to struggle with fatigue and headaches. He did not know Filipo before the assault.
‘‘He didn’t even get a slap on the hand – it just annoys me,’’ Morgan said.
‘‘I think if it was someone from the public who wasn’t playing rugby, who just had a normal job or something, I’d hate to think what they would have got. I think they would have got prison time, to be honest.
‘‘I think because he’s got a potential career in rugby, that’s the only reason he’s got off, and because of the people backing him.’’
Prime Minister John Key said yesterday: ‘‘Violence is unacceptable anywhere, it doesn’t matter what your profession is. If you undertake violence, you should be held to the same set of rules as everyone else.’’
Key said he could not comment specifically on the Filipo case because there were rules preventing him from commenting on judicial findings.