前汤加橄榄球运动员Penikolo Latu因在纽卡斯尔酒店袭击值班警察而被定罪;11月被判刑。 Former Tongan rugby player Penikolo Latu convicted of assaulting off-duty cop in Newcastle hotel; sentenced in November.

Penikolo Kula Latu, 32岁,前汤加国际橄榄球运动员,因2025年3月1日在纽卡斯尔酒店殴打值班警官Aaron Barnett,被判犯有殴打造成实际身体伤害的罪行。 Penikolo Kula Latu, a 32-year-old former Tongan international rugby player, has been found guilty of assault occasioning actual bodily harm for punching off-duty police officer Aaron Barnett at a Newcastle hotel on March 1, 2025. 巴内特的眼窝骨折 脑出血 牙齿断裂 还有瘀伤 Barnett suffered a fractured eye socket, brain bleed, chipped tooth, and bruising. 双方都同意Latu攻击Barnett, 但质疑这是否为自卫。 Both sides agreed Latu struck Barnett, but disputed whether it was self-defense. Latu声称,在巴内特的朋友接近他并用挑衅手势推他之后,他感到受到威胁。 Latu claimed he felt threatened after being approached by Barnett’s friend and pushed with a provocative gesture. 法庭证据,包括闭路电视和亲身拍摄的摄像片,显示Latu的反应是不相称的。 Court evidence, including CCTV and body-worn camera footage, showed Latu’s response was disproportionate. 治安官Janine Lacy裁定,无论Barnett的课外地位如何,使用武力都是没有道理的。 Magistrate Janine Lacy ruled the force used was not justified, regardless of Barnett’s off-duty status. Latu将在11月判刑。 Latu will be sentenced in November.