League player in court over attack
By Sean Berry
June 20, 2004
The Sun-Herald
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A feud between two rugby league players has left one with a fractured cheekbone and the other in jail on assault charges.
Cronulla Sharks first grader Jason Williams faced Parramatta bail court yesterday over a brutal attack on teammate Jeremy Smith.
He was charged with one count of maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm in company and one count of common assault.
Registrar Brian Fenn refused bail due to "the general welfare and protection of both the victim and the community".
Williams, 23 - an off-season buy from the Bulldogs - has been tagged the strongest man at the Sharks.
The 115-kilogram second rower/prop from New Zealand made his first-grade debut this season and had so far played six first-grade games for the Sharks. Smith plays for the Sharks' Premier League side.
Sharks chief executive Steve Rogers said Williams is facing the sack from the club after facing court.
"We put him on notice that he would go if there were any further incidents with Jeremy," Rogers said yesterday.
Rogers said that Smith would likely be unable to play for the rest of the season.
The court was told the feud has been going since January and they had come to blows on two previous occasions.
Police allege Williams and an acquaintance bashed Smith unconscious at Carmen's Nightclub in Miranda.
Documents tendered in court revealed the Sharks have had to ban Williams from playing in games twice after incidents involving the pair.
On a bus trip on February 7, police documents allege team-mates had to pull Williams off Smith after he punched him. It is also alleged Williams hit his teammate high and late in a tackle at training.
Smith, who told police he had little recollection of the attack, went to Sutherland Hospital with a fractured cheekbone and swelling to his head. He had surgery on his cheek the following day at the Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick.
The accused attended Miranda police station of his own accord on Thursday. He allegedly admitted to being present during the incident but denied taking part, claiming he attempted to separate Smith and another man during what he described as "a fair fight".
He was called back to the station the following day and arrested. He will reappear at Sutherland Local Court tomorrow.
By Sean Berry
June 20, 2004
The Sun-Herald
Page Tools
Email to a friend Printer format
A feud between two rugby league players has left one with a fractured cheekbone and the other in jail on assault charges.
Cronulla Sharks first grader Jason Williams faced Parramatta bail court yesterday over a brutal attack on teammate Jeremy Smith.
He was charged with one count of maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm in company and one count of common assault.
Registrar Brian Fenn refused bail due to "the general welfare and protection of both the victim and the community".
Williams, 23 - an off-season buy from the Bulldogs - has been tagged the strongest man at the Sharks.
The 115-kilogram second rower/prop from New Zealand made his first-grade debut this season and had so far played six first-grade games for the Sharks. Smith plays for the Sharks' Premier League side.
Sharks chief executive Steve Rogers said Williams is facing the sack from the club after facing court.
"We put him on notice that he would go if there were any further incidents with Jeremy," Rogers said yesterday.
Rogers said that Smith would likely be unable to play for the rest of the season.
The court was told the feud has been going since January and they had come to blows on two previous occasions.
Police allege Williams and an acquaintance bashed Smith unconscious at Carmen's Nightclub in Miranda.
Documents tendered in court revealed the Sharks have had to ban Williams from playing in games twice after incidents involving the pair.
On a bus trip on February 7, police documents allege team-mates had to pull Williams off Smith after he punched him. It is also alleged Williams hit his teammate high and late in a tackle at training.
Smith, who told police he had little recollection of the attack, went to Sutherland Hospital with a fractured cheekbone and swelling to his head. He had surgery on his cheek the following day at the Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick.
The accused attended Miranda police station of his own accord on Thursday. He allegedly admitted to being present during the incident but denied taking part, claiming he attempted to separate Smith and another man during what he described as "a fair fight".
He was called back to the station the following day and arrested. He will reappear at Sutherland Local Court tomorrow.
