Former All Black’s conviction overturned

A former All Black convicted of assaulting his son has had his conviction overturned on appeal to the High Court.

The man, who cannot be named to keep his son’s identity secret, pleaded guilty in November after striking his son twice with a leather belt.

He was sentenced by Judge Tony Fitzgerald in Auckland District Court in March to come up for sentence if called on – in effect, no penalty – but his application for a discharge without conviction was declined.

The former All Black had argued that he had completed an anger management course and the consequences of a conviction would be out of proportion to the offending.

He said he had engagements overseas and sat on several boards that could be jeopardised if he had to declare a conviction.

Also, it would be ‘‘embarrassing’’ to declare his convic- tion at the border of foreign countries.

The District Court judge disagreed and entered a conviction, but the case was taken to the High Court on appeal.

In a judgment released late yesterday, Justice Potter overturned the decision, say- ing the man could be at risk of losing employment from speaking engagements, particularly overseas.

‘‘There is a real and appreciable risk that his continuing contribution to the community would be affected by the consequences of a conviction,’’ she said.