Identity of drunk ex-AB secret for the time being

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The punching incident was described as savage and appalling.

A former All Black who admitted punching a woman in the face while drunk has been told by a judge for a second time that his name must be made public.

But it still can’t be published, in case he launches another appeal against the court’s decision.

The All Black’s lawyer had argued in an earlier court hearing that he was so drunk at the time that he had not realised he had hit a woman.

The man also failed in an appeal against his sentence for the December 2019 assault – two years of intensive supervision.

Justice Paul Davison’s reasoning for the decision, after an appeal in the High Court at Hamilton, cannot yet be published.

The punching incident was described as savage and appalling by the Hamilton District Court sentencing judge, Judge Robert Spear, in January.

The man was extremely intoxicated and had been offered a ride home by a group of friends. While in the car he punched the woman in the face, without warning.

Neither the victim nor the man could remember what spurred the assault, although it was apparently sparked by a remark about a family member.

‘‘This was a savage blow delivered to an unsuspecting woman that caused significant injury,’’ Judge Spear said.

The judge said that if the appellant’s explanation that he was unaware he had hit a woman was accepted, it meant that he was so grossly intoxicated that he had not appreciated who else was with him in the car.

The man apologised to his victim at a restorative justice conference. She supported his bid for permanent name suppression.

Judge Spear had ‘‘considerable concern about what [the man] might be capable of if your drinking is not brought under control’’.

He ordered judicial monitoring of the man’s sentence, so if the man did not stick to his conditions ‘‘you will be back before me and you will be looking at a sentence that restricts your liberty’’.

The former All Black’s name remains suppressed for another 20 working days, in case he files a second appeal against the decision. If he does not, his interim name suppression will lapse after that period.