Benji Marshall Assault Charge Dismissed

Marshall denies punching victim
Georgina Robinson
August 24, 2011 - 10:57AM

Wests Tigers star Benji Marshall has told a court that if he meant his alleged assault victim any harm he "would have punched him".

Marshall, 26, is defending a charge of assault against Soliman Naimey, which is alleged to have occurred outside a Sydney McDonald's on March 5.

The NRL star today denied punching Mr Naimey, 24, on the corner of George and Bridge streets about 3.30am.

Marshall told the Downing Centre Local Court that he pushed Mr Naimey - with a gesture he described in football terms as a "fend" - then walked away with a friend.

He said he did not mean to harm Mr Naimey and would have used more force if that was his intention.

"If I wanted to [hurt him], I would have punched him," Marshall said.

He said he had earlier hosted a charity function to raise money for children with cancer and had been returning to his hotel when he heard someone yell out "Why don't you f–- off, you black c---?"

He said he turned around and twice asked the man what he had said, and the racist comment was twice repeated to him.

"I wanted to tell him you cannot say those things to people."

He maintained under cross-examination it was that slur that made him confront the man.

Marshall also said he would do the same again.

"Absolutely, because I don't think I have done anything wrong," he told the court.

But he said he would never punch someone in that situation.

"I'm aware of my profile and what I have to do to represent my club, my country and my family.

"I went back because of what he called me."

Swimming great Dawn Fraser is expected to be called this morning as a witness for he defence.

The hearing continues.
 
**He maintained under cross-examination it was that slur that made him confront the man.**

He must have been cross-examined then.
 
So it comes down to:

Prosecution - A boofheaded footballer reacted to an innocent taunt from a respectable member of the community when he should have walked away.

Defence - A bearded humanitarian trying to cure kid's cancer was racially abused by a half-drunk clown and even then was just fended off.
 
@Yossarian said:
So it comes down to:

Prosecution - A boofheaded footballer reacted to an innocent taunt from a respectable member of the community when he should have walked away.

Defence - A bearded humanitarian trying to cure kid's cancer was racially abused by a half-drunk clown and even then was just fended off.

He said/she said. Everyones testimonies will cancel each others out.

With no real evidence shown here such as cctv footage, or a mobile phone video recording, Marshall should get off.
 
@Yossarian said:
So it comes down to:

Prosecution - A boofheaded footballer reacted to an innocent taunt from a respectable member of the community when he should have walked away.

Defence - A bearded humanitarian trying to cure kid's cancer was racially abused by a half-drunk clown and even then was just fended off.

:roll

Love it!! Sounds like you have a law degree Yossarian.
 
Naimey's Triple 0 call

"I just got hit by a football player" just played to the court.

Hopefully this settles exactly why this complaint was levelled against Marshall
 
**amydale_tele Amy Dale
Court played Naimey's triple zero call where he can be heard to say "I just got hit by a football player"**

Crikey… Imagine that call to 000\. "Yeah? What code mate?"
 
@smeghead said:
Naimey's Triple 0 call

"I just got hit by a football player" just played to the court.

Hopefully this settles exactly why this complaint was levelled against Marshall

Well yes. Everyone seems to agree a second person hit him much harder and with more intent and yet even then he was only interested in Benji. You'd think he would have said "I've just been hit by two blokes. I know one of them is a footballer."
 
@Long Distance Tiger said:
@Yossarian said:
So it comes down to:

Prosecution - A boofheaded footballer reacted to an innocent taunt from a respectable member of the community when he should have walked away.

Defence - A bearded humanitarian trying to cure kid's cancer was racially abused by a half-drunk clown and even then was just fended off.

:roll

Love it!! Sounds like you have a law degree Yossarian.

No mate, no law degree. Just a decade's experience working in law enforcement boiling down crap into the important details.
 
**amydale_tele Amy Dale
Magistrate Carolyn Barkell could make her decision on Marshall's case very shortly. Benji is in court right now looking pretty calm**

Sounds like "Her honour" has heard enough.
 
"Thankyou for calling Triple O… This is Greg McCullum speaking"

"Was it High?"

"Was it Late?"

"Does he play for the NSW Blues?"

:roll
They have wasted crucial training time for Benji with this rot
:deadhorse:
 
Can't believe this guy called triple zero. The person on the other end deals with fatalities and genuine emergency's every day, yet they had to sit there and listen to this guy cry about mouthing off and getting a fat lip!

This isn't why triple zero exists!!!!
 
News just in: Benji Marshall not guilty of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

http://twitter.com/#!/amydale_tele
 
@Tiger Watto said:
"Thankyou for calling Triple O… This is Greg McCullum speaking"

"Was it High?"

"Was it Late?"

"Does he play for the NSW Blues?"

:roll
They have wasted crucial training time for Benji with this rot
:deadhorse:

Hahahahahaha YES!
 

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