HE admitted to a series of drunken attacks on his former girlfriend, in which she was pushed to the ground, punched, kicked and thrown around the couple’s bedroom.
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But former Knight Zane Tetevano will not serve any jail time for five separate instances of domestic violence in as many months after an appeal against the severity of his 18-month imprisonment was upheld in Newcastle District Court on Monday.
Judge Roy Ellis was impressed with Tetevano’s rehabilitation over the past year and his willingness to own up to his problems with alcohol and anger and said the 24-year-old was better served in the community than in jail.
He pointed to Tetevano’s willingness to act as a mentor to young rugby league players as part of NRL domestic violence and alcohol prevention program, his ongoing treatment with a clinical psychiatrist and his willingness to take part in an 18-week domestic violence program as evidence he should be given a second chance.
He also put stock in evidence from Tetevano’s current girlfriend Mikayla Bailey who said he had not been violent or aggressive towards her during their relationship and that he had undergone a remarkable change in attitude and personal development.
‘‘To rehabilitate this young man would be to protect the community from him in the long-term,’’ Judge Ellis said. ‘‘To send him into custody for a matter of months would only protect the community for that period of months. ‘‘To send him back now would risk undoing all of the good work that has been done and would risk sending him back to the same mindset that he had in the days when he was offending.’’
Tetevano was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment with a non-parole period of nine months in May this year after previously pleading guilty to eight charges, including two counts each of common assault and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
But on Monday Judge Ellis upheld his appeal and placed him on a number of good behaviour bonds, while suspending his remaining jail terms. The ruling means Tetevano, represented on Monday by barrister Julieanne Levick, has not spent any time in custody.
Outside court, Tetevano told the Newcastle Herald he was grateful to get a second chance.
‘‘They don’t come often,’’ he said. ‘‘I wanted another chance to turn my life around and the judge has given me that.
‘‘I can finally feel that I have the weight off my shoulders to plan something.
‘‘I can start the rest of my life now.’’
Tetevano had a dysfunctional upbringing in New Zealand, including exposure to domestic violence and drug and alcohol abuse before he moved to Australia, the court heard.
But he said the stringent conditions, which included continuing his counselling and working with young athletes as well as being of good behaviour and not re-offending, were not a concern.
‘‘These are conditions that I have challenged myself to do and I want to do,’’ he said.
During the appeal, Dr Tilda Khoshaba, the Rugby League Players’ Association general manager of player engagement and development, had told the court Tetevano had no interest in playing rugby league or reconnecting with the drinking culture associated with the sport.
‘‘Alcohol and rugby league pretty much go hand in hand,’’ Dr Khoshaba said.
‘‘And for Zane rugby league was a negative, not a positive because he tried to use it to mask some of the issues he was facing.
‘‘The environment wasn’t a positive environment for him and it’s not something he wants to go back to.
‘‘When we have issues with alcohol we look at the family history that some of our players have and we can see that it was probably always going to be a recipe for disaster.
‘‘We have a large number of Pacific Islanders in our sport who have a similar history and Zane can actually mentor them from the time time they come into the under-20s right through until when they finish their career.’’
Tetevano said he was happy working 60 hours a week, building furniture in his spare time and leading ‘‘a simple life’’ with his girlfriend Ms Bailey.
‘‘I miss footy, don’t get me wrong,’’ he said. ‘‘I just don’t want to be a part of it really.
‘‘This could have gone a completely different way and I would have accepted it. I always say you have you’ve got to accept the consequences.
Tetevano played 29 first grade games for the Knights before he was sacked in May last year. He was later signed by Manly before they tore up his contract when he changed his pleas from not guilt to guilty for the assault charges in November, 2014.
