Sportsman’s ‘despicable’ actions admitted
A harness racing star admits his actions were ‘‘despicable’’ when he choked and beat a woman who feared she was going to be killed.
Matt Anderson, a former New Zealand representative and national premiership-winning harness racing junior driver, was sentenced to three months’ community detention and 12 months’ intensive supervision by the Christchurch District Court yesterday.
The 28-year-old was found guilty of assault and intentionally impeding breathing by strangulation after a judge-alone trial in July. The assault happened at his home on February 2. He grabbed the victim around the neck and choked her, then threw her out of his house and locked the door to stop her from getting her car keys that were still inside.
The victim crawled through an open window to try to get her keys, but was confronted by Anderson. He assaulted her again and kicked her face while she was on the ground.
The victim called 111 and told the
emergency operator she thought Anderson was going to kill her. She was told to run towards the road.
The woman told the court she saw Anderson run back to the house to get his car and she feared he would run her over. She jumped into a ditch and hid until she saw a police car arrive.
During the trial, Anderson denied he had assaulted or choked the woman. He claimed the woman had grabbed his arm and fell when he moved away.
Judge Stephen O’Driscoll rejected Anderson’s version of events, saying the bruises on the victim’s body were inconsistent with her falling onto the carpet, and what she told the court matched what she told the 111 operator. The victim earlier told The Press she wanted Anderson to acknowledge what he did. He had blamed her and refused to take responsibility for what he did throughout the court process.
‘‘The only way this is not going to happen to someone else is if he realises what he did,’’ she said.
Yesterday, defence counsel Allister Davis said Anderson had genuine remorse for his actions.
He’d had time to reflect on the incident, and acknowledged his actions were ‘‘despicable and not warranted in any way or respect’’. The assault was out of character for Anderson and ‘‘a significant fall from grace’’ for him, Davis said.
Police argued Anderson lacked genuine remorse. Instead of acknowledging what he did, he went to trial and accused the victim of embellishing her statements to ruin his career, police said. The judge said those who gave Anderson’s references were not present when the assault happened and did not see the victim’s bruises.
‘‘What you did was wrong, Mr Anderson, and must not be repeated,’’ the judge told him.
The judge ordered Anderson to pay emotional harm reparation of $5000 to the victim.
Just under a year ago, Anderson was discharged without conviction after admitting possessingMDMAfor supply, and two charges of supplying MDMA. The Press understands much of the evidence against Anderson was gathered from covert surveillance as part of Operation Inca – a 17-month investigation that culminated in raids on 17 horse stables and properties in Canterbury, Manawatu¯ and Invercargill in September 2018.
Although no criminal charges were added to his record, Anderson was charged by the Racing Integrity Unit (RIU) as the acts were deemed detrimental to the interests of harness racing.