Court sequel to league incident

Press, 21 October 1980, Page 12

Court sequel to league incident

PA Palmenstoh Norfit' Phillip Alexander Whyte ’ took exception to a rugby league coach’s actions during againe, so he punched the coach, on themouth, the District Court at Feilding heard. • Whyte, aged 26, a - truck-driver, denied assaulting William Brian Newton; The alleged assault, at ■ Feiiding' on June 29f caused Mr Newton’s tooth .to penetrate his lip. Mr - Newton said that when one of the Feilding • players scored a try against Takaro, the player : Xsuffered an injury. Mr. Newton, askedi the referee/ .whether Whyte had kicked the playeri Whyte. also came oyer, . and : Mr ; Newton put; his hand on Whyte’s arm arid I said that ; he would, lookdrifter his. own player; He ; was then punched on the/mouth by Whyte. ■ ' ■The referee, Mr Stya-

thon ilolmes, : "confirmed that the assault had occurred. and that he had ordered Whyte from the field. Counsel for Whyte, Mr J. Key, then sought leave to change the plea to one/ of guilty. This was consented to by Judge Finnegan., ■ • -!•-.•/ :..' In -summary, the prosecutor, Senior-Sergeant B. A. Amphlett, said that Whyte, when interviewed, had admitted punching the coach, but said that he had done so because he felt the coach’s'' actions were aggressive;/ and he thought a scene was going to start. Whyte was convicted and a discharged,; but ordered to:’jlay Court; costs ,of $75 and witnesses' expenses Jof $4B. The Court also heard that he had been 'banned from-playing rugby/ league , for 16 months...