Eagles AFL player jailed over punch
3:00pm March 7, 2014
West Coast footballer Murray Newman has been jailed for one year after being found guilty of fracturing a man's jaw at a Perth nightclub for sleeping with his girlfriend.
Newman was convicted by a jury last year in the Perth District Court of causing grievous bodily harm to Brett Marris, then aged 20, in November 2012.
Newman, then aged 18, had a "deep grudge" against Mr Marris because he had slept with Newman's girlfriend, Judge John Staude said on Friday.
After weeks of threats from Newman on Facebook, including telling Mr Marris to "start digging a grave", the pair saw each other at the Library Nightclub in Northbridge.
Newman was sober but "angry and agitated" when the pair fought briefly before bouncers broke up the fight, the court heard.
Judge Staude did not accept that Newman was acting in self-defence against a taller man.
"You struck Marris precisely because he would not rise to your challenge for a fight," Judge Staude said.
"You were the aggressor, not he."
Judge Staude was also critical of Newman for only showing remorse after the verdict.
He concluded that a prison sentence was the only appropriate action.
Newman must spend six months behind bars before being eligible for parole.
He also has a permanent restraining order against him and cannot be near Mr Marris.
Newman was supported in court during the trial by West Coast Eagles teammates including captain Darren Glass, Dean Cox, Nic Naitanui and Josh Kennedy.
