Club rugbyplayer escapes conviction
A former Wellington club rugby player has been discharged without conviction for an onfield attack that left an opponent with severe facial injuries.
Iosefo Kalolo Aukusitino pleaded guilty at the Hutt Valley District Court in December to one charge of injuring Petone player Ridge Studd with reckless disregard.
He had originally been charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm but that charge was later downgraded.
He was sentenced by Judge Michael Mika on Friday.
The charge related to an incident during an Ambassador’s Sevens Tournament match between Petone and Aukusitino’s club, Marist St Pats (MSP), at Upper Hutt’s Maidstone Park on November 14, 2020.
Photos of the incident show Studd pinned to the ground as a fight broke out.
According to a report presented at the committee hearing, witnesses saw Studd ‘‘convulsing on the ground’’ in the wake of the brawl.
He was hospitalised, suffered multiple fractures, required reconstructive facial surgery and was unable to work in the weeks after.
In summing up, Judge Mika said an aggravating factor in determining Aukusitino’s sentence was the severity of Studd’s injuries.
This was weighted against his lack of previous criminal convictions, and his voluntary community work since the offence.
Mika also took into account his willingness to engage in a constructive restorative justice conference with Studd and his family, who had forgiven him.
The family had been explicit in their wish for Aukusitino to face no jail time or fines, and for him to focus on being a good father.
Mika also considered a conviction would have a negative impact on Aukusitino’s employment opportunities.
‘‘I assess the gravity of the offence to be in the low category.’’
He said the shame Aukusitino and his family experienced following the events of two years ago was not insignificant.
Aukusitino is also banned from Wellington club rugby games for two years.
That penalty was imposed after a Wellington Rugby Football Union disciplinary committee hearing, which found Aukusitino had struck Studd ‘‘leading to serious and consequences to the health of the victim’’.
In an earlier statement, MSP chairman Rob Evans said the club deeply regretted the incident and the effect it had on the Studd family and the rugby community.
‘‘Marist St Pats does not and has never condoned violence of any sort on or off the rugby field or under any circumstances.
‘‘We are supporting Iosefo Aukusitino as he takes responsibility for his actions.’’
The Heart Foundation has launched a new fundraiser.
The Big Heart Charity Lottery has a total prize pool of $500,000 cash, with proceeds going towards life-saving heart research.
‘‘We are really excited to bring this new online lottery to New Zealanders,’’ says head of fundraising Alison WheatleyMahon.
The past two years have been difficult for the charity, with a number of events being cancelled.
‘‘Significant challenges over the last two years, including the cancellations of our Big Heart Appeal street collections, have impacted our fundraising by hundreds of thousands of dollars.’’
Covid-19-related legislation amendments allow the Heart Foundation to conduct lotteries online and that created an opportunity for the charity to engage the support ofmore Kiwis, she says.
‘‘We have been running a lottery for nearly 30 years,’’ Wheatley-Mahon says.
‘‘But we are now able to introduce a new online lottery that will raise additional funds for vital heart research.’’
Heart disease is Aotearoa’s single biggest killer, claiming the lives ofmore than 6500 Kiwis every year – that is more than one person every 90 minutes.
More than 170,000 New Zealanders are currently living with heart disease.
Wheatley-Mahon says many of these deaths are premature and preventable.
‘‘That is why, over the past five decades we have invested $82 million of donated funds into leading-edge heart research and specialist training for cardiologists, resulting in innovative treatments which have significantly improved the heart health of New Zealanders.
‘‘We have only been able to do this through the incredible generosity of everyday Kiwis who want to help save lives.’’
The Heart Foundation provides support, care and advice for people and their families affected by heart disease, while its education and prevention programmes address heart disease head-on in the community.
The new lottery offers amustwin total cash prize pool of $500,000, with a ticket price of $10.
To purchase tickets in the Big Heart Charity Lottery, visit charitylottery.org.nz.