A court has been told that "sheer luck" prevented a man from suffering fatal injuries during an assault by AFL star Noah Balta. The Richmond Tigers defender, 25, has pleaded guilty to an assault that took place on December 30 in Mulwala, located in the NSW Riverina region. The incident left the 27-year-old victim hospitalized with a head injury.
Prosecution Highlights the Severity of the Assault
During the hearing at Corowa Local Court, prosecutor Jason Tozer emphasized the dangerous nature of the attack. He described how the victim was punched multiple times and thrown, narrowly avoiding severe injury.
"Your Honour can see he becomes fully airborne and travels a metre or a metre-and-a-half," Tozer stated.
"It is only sheer luck that his head did not make contact with that concrete."
Balta has pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, an offence that carries a maximum penalty of five years in jail under NSW law.
Defence Argues It Was an Isolated Incident
Balta's legal team acknowledged the seriousness of the assault but contended that it should be classified as a mid-level rather than a high-level offence. Defence lawyer Belinda Franjic presented character references describing Balta as a "kind, caring, gentle giant," arguing that the incident was entirely out of character for him.
"It's quite clear this offence is completely and utterly out of character for Mr. Balta," she told the court.
Alcohol and Family Involvement in the Incident
The court heard that Balta had consumed a significant amount of alcohol on the day of the offence and reacted after seeing his younger brother involved in a confrontation. Franjic stated that Balta had since taken responsibility for his actions, sought professional help, and participated in courses to address his behaviour.
Although Balta quickly admitted to the assault and pleaded guilty, he initially told police he had only punched the victim three or four times. His barrister later admitted, "That might not have been completely accurate."
Prosecution Criticizes AFL's Response
The Richmond Tigers sanctioned Balta with a four-match suspension, but Tozer argued that the punishment was inadequate.
"The action taken by the club is so minimal as to be irrelevant," Tozer stated.
"The court must send a message to the community that this type of conduct is unacceptable no matter who you are."
Upcoming Sentencing
Noah Balta is scheduled to be sentenced on April 22, where the court will determine the appropriate penalty for the offence.
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