A RUGBY union player charged with reckless grievous bodily harm following an on-field punch will be sentenced in September.
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Soane Vaha’i pleaded guilty before Armidale Local Court earlier this month over the incident, which took place on the afternoon of June 7 at Bellevue Oval.
The Guyra flanker struck Robb’s Sebastian Dunhill during the latter stages of a first grade rugby union match, breaking his jaw.
The offending punch was thrown during a ruckus after a high tackle by Vaha’i’s team mate Liva Sili.
Vaha’i was subsequently given a red card and referred to a New England Rugby Union judiciary panel, which gave him a 52-week ban after viewing video evidence.
Dunill had surgery at John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle following the match, with a metal plate inserted in his jaw to stabilise it.
Magistrate Karen Stafford ordered the prosecution to obtain any updated medical information or victim impact statements from Dunhill before the sentencing.
“Those sorts of injuries sometimes change over time,” she said.
The defence plans to call two witnesses to provide mitigating evidence, although the court heard the police facts are not disputed.
A Tongan interpreter will be present at the hearing to assist Vaha’i.
The defence is also seeking an interpreter for any interviews done with Vaha’i by community corrections for a pre-sentence report ordered by Magistrate Stafford.
Vaha’i will face a one-hour sentence hearing on Friday, September 5. The hearing will be given first priority on the day.