Ex-All Black loses secrecy
Zac Guildford hit woman in face so hard that breathing still difficult for her
Former All Black Zac Guildford has lost an appeal to keep his name secret after punching a woman in the face so hard she still has breathing issues. Guildford was criticised by Judge Robert Spear in the Hamilton District Court in January after being sentenced on a charge of male assaults female after the drunken incident on December 20, 2019.
The 11-game All Black veteran had pushed for suppression so it wouldn’t affect a possible rugby contract in Western Australia — where rugby bosses were unaware of his case.
He appealed to the High Court in February, but last month Justice Paul Davison dismissed both appeals. The secrecy ended after 20 working days.
At his sentencing, Guildford was given two years’ intensive supervision, to be reviewed after 12 months. The sentence also carries judicial monitoring, which is where the sentencing judge is given reports of his progress every three months.
The player has been open about his struggles with drugs, alcohol and depression since his All Blacks debut in 2009. In 2011, he hit the headlines after a drunken, naked attack on two holidaymakers in Rarotonga.
His latest incident stems from a night out drinking in a Taradale, Napier, bar with friends just before Christmas in 2019.
Guildford was offered a ride home by associates and jumped in the back seat. A woman in the front passenger seat turned to say something when, without warning, he punched her in the face. Judge Spear said it was “a savage blow delivered to an unsuspecting woman” that left her bloodied and bruised.
Thirteen months on, she suffered ongoing issues breathing through her nose, the judge said.
When questioned by police at the time, Guildford said he hadn’t realised he had punched a woman.
“What that tells me,” Judge Spear said at sentencing, “is that you were so grossly intoxicated that you didn’t even [realise] who was in the car with you and that brings me to what I would consider to be one of the central factors in this case and that is your inability to control your drinking and control your behaviour when you have been drinking.”
While Guildford had very few previous NZ convictions the judge noted his drunken overseas antics, notably the Rarotonga incident.
The judge said it appeared Guildford had become angry at the victim mentioning a relative of his who had been undergoing detoxification for drug abuse and lashed out.
Once Guildford had sobered up he was “extremely apologetic and remorseful”, the judge said.
Guildford and the victim had a successful restorative justice conference in July 2020.
He paid her $3000 in reparations and she had supported his name suppression bid.
Guildford has been living with his grandparents in Featherston and working as a mental health worker for Te Hauora Ru¯nanga o Wairarapa.
He has also attended several counselling sessions for his own rehabilitation with psychologist Sara Chatwin.
Guildford’s lawyer, Rob Quin, said he had been offered a contract with a Perth rugby team in late 2018.
There was also “some potential” for it to lead to a contract with the Western Force Super Rugby team.
Quin said his client knew he had “somewhat of a troubled past” and was making attempts to better himself.
Although he had a limited criminal history none of it had involved violence against women.
“He’s very embarrassed about the incident that occurred and has done his best to make amends for it and doing his best to stay out of trouble.”
In denying name suppression, Judge Spear said he “could see no good reason” why it shouldn’t be made public. “It’s important that people dealing with you do [know].”