Latest news with #selfdefence
Daily Mail
8 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Man who threw footy commentator Paul Kent into a tree during wild street fight has a huge win in court
The man who was involved in a wild brawl with Paul Kent has had the affray charge against him dropped after pleading self defence and alleging that the former Fox Sports star spat at him during their infamous street brawl. On Monday, Tamer Uzun appeared at Manly Local Court in relation to the altercation that took place outside Totti's restaurant in Rozelle in April 2024. Uzun had one charge of affray dismissed after Magistrate Michael Blair heard submissions from prosecutors and Uzun's legal counsel, who argued their client had acted in self-defence. In July, Kent had attempted to have his affray charge dealt with on the grounds of his mental health. The 55-year-old failed in that application and was slapped with a good behaviour bond, but avoided a criminal conviction. Kent parted ways with NewsCorp and Fox after a video of the brawl went viral online. Kent (in black pants and T-shirt, centre) and Uzun (far left) made headlines when footage of their physical clash went viral On Monday, Uzun's legal counsel, Bryan Wrench, told the court that his client was sober at the time and did not initiate the wild brawl. 'Mr Kent is the person provoking the incident and our client has had to defend himself,' Wrench argued. Kent acknowledged accusations that he had consumed 21 beers across the space of 11 hours at the Sackville Hotel prior to the physical clash in comments made in February. The court was shown footage of the moment that Kent advanced through a group of people towards Uzun before the scuffle unfolded. The melee ended with Kent, 55, being thrown into a tree. He suffered six broken ribs and a collapsed lung as a result. Prosecutor Sergeant Adrian Walsh argued that Uzun had thrown punches and had not attempted to curtail the incident. Uzun had been at the restaurant for a birthday and had been waiting for his partner outside the restaurant. Kent accused Uzun of 's**t-potting' him, but during Monday's court hearing, Uzun denied any allegations that he had attempted to provoke the situation. 'At the start, I thought it was a joke,' Uzun said. The court also heard Uzun's claim that Kent (pictured) spat at him during the melee 'I didn't know what he was talking about, we were laughing about the accusations.' He had told Kent to 'f*** off' and 'keep going', but added that the NRL reporter had continued to remonstrate with him. In the video, Kent can also be seen attempting to take off his watch. Noting the moment, Uzun told the court that he had thought 'this bloke's going to bash me'. He added that he had attempted to strike Kent as the melee exploded into the middle of the road. Uzun alleged that Kent had got back to his feet after being thrown into the tree, before he allegedly spat at him. 'I didn't want a fight,' Uzun said, replying to suggestions by Sergeant Walsh that he had 'beckoned' to Kent to come at him. Handing down his judgement, Magistrate Michael Blair explained that it could not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Uzun had acted unreasonably in the process of throwing a punch at Kent. He acknowledged that Uzun had taken his jumper off in preparation for the fracas before adding that Uzun had not helped the situation by furiously firing back at Kent. But noting that Kent was the 'more aggressive' party, Magistrate Blair chose to dismiss the affray charge against Uzun, adding: 'In the circumstances and with all the evidence, it cannot be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.'
CBC
10 hours ago
- CBC
Closing arguments in Lam murder trial turn on self-defence
Jurors will soon have to decide whether Hue and Chau Lam were acting in self-defence when they killed their mother, Kieu, almost three years ago. Closing arguments wrapped up on Monday, with no dispute that the two sisters killed the 88-year-old woman in her sleep. Instead, the defence urged jurors to consider the mindset of two sisters who endured decades of isolation and abuse. Ewan Lyttle, representing Chau, asked the jury to "walk a mile in their shoes before judging them." "Chau was someone who never received love or affection from her mother," he said. "She was made to feel like a disappointment, and unwanted. She was chronically verbally and physically abused, and this caused her to suffer from persistent depressive disorder." He said the abuse escalated in the week leading up to the killing on October 31, 2022, and became a daily occurrence. At one point, he said, Kieu used a broom handle. The abuse was unpredictable, according to Lyttle, who called it "reasonable" to assume it would simply continue once Kieu woke up from her sleep. He said Chau felt like she couldn't escape. Her upbringing in a Sino-Vietnamese household created a strong sense of obligation to stay in the home and care for her mother. She feared police wouldn't believe her, Lyttle told the court, and worried that reporting the abuse would only worsen her ordeal. "Chao's perspective of what her options were must be seen from this very unique life experience," he said. Hue is representing herself, but the court has appointed a lawyer known as an amicus curiae, a role intended to ensure she gets a fair trial. That lawyer, Paolo Giancaterino, raised arguments on her behalf on Monday. "It is not a case about revenge, retribution or anger," he said. "This is a case about a woman who from a very young age was subject to the control of her mother and subject to emotional and physical violence." He said his client's diagnosis of Parkinson's disease made her even more vulnerable to the abuse. She lost her job, and Giancaterino said that meant Hue had "no value" in her mother's eyes. He said her disability also made it harder for her to escape the worsening violence. Giancaterino cited expert opinion that Hue was suffering from major depressive disorder. He urged jurors to keep that in mind — even if they reject the self-defence argument. He said it raises a reasonable doubt about whether she had the "requisite intent required for murder." Lyttle made a similar argument, citing his client's depression. He said the jurors could opt for manslaughter instead. Crown calls killing 'wildly disproportionate' The Crown said there can be no doubt that the sisters intended to kill their mother. "Hue and Chao brutally murdered their own aging and frail mother as she lay sleeping in her bed," said prosecutor Julian Whitten. He said there was no evidence they were hallucinating, and no sign their depression triggered a psychotic break. The killing didn't happen at a single stroke, he pointed out. The hammer blow didn't kill Kieu, but only knocked her out. He said the sisters would have had to strangle her for a minute or more to finish the job. Whitten started a one-minute timer, leaving the courtroom in silence to allow the jurors to ponder how long that would take. As for self-defence, Whitten called the killing "wildly disproportionate" to the abuse the sisters said they suffered. He said and abuse was "neither heinous nor life-threatening," and there was no evidence of anything as serious as a black eye. Whitten asked how an elderly woman who used a walker could possibly be such a grave threat, especially as she slept. "This abuser, this aged, frail 88 year old was sleeping," he said. "There was nothing reasonable about any fears that Hue and Chao harboured." He cited the statements the sisters made to police and a 911 operator, saying they were "angry" with their mother in light of her constant hitting, cursing and scoldings. At that time, he noted, they did not mention self-defence. Justice Narissa Somji is expected to deliver her instructions to the jury on Tuesday, before sending them to deliberate on a verdict.
News.com.au
a day ago
- News.com.au
‘Going to bash me': Man involved in Paul Kent brawl claims self defence
A man who was involved in a wild brawl with Paul Kent has told a court that he was afraid the rugby league journalist and commentator was going to 'bash' him during a now-infamous incident outside a Sydney restaurant. Tamer Uzun, 37, on Monday appeared in Manly Local Court for a hearing after pleading not guilty to one count of affray stemming from his altercation with Kent outside Totti's Rozelle in April last year. In footage which quickly went viral on social media, Kent pushed past several people before trading blows with Mr Uzun on the public street, with the fight ending when Kent was thrown into a tree. The prosecution has argued Mr Uzun threw punches and failed to de-escalate the incident when he continued to trade verbal barbs with Kent and took off his jumper. Police prosecutor Sergeant Adrian Walsh told the court on Monday that Mr Uzun threw punches before grabbing and throwing Kent into a tree. However Mr Uzun's solicitor Bryan Wrench told the court his client was acting in self defence. He said that Mr Uzun, who was sober at the time, was wrongly accused of making comments towards Kent. 'Mr Kent is the person provoking the incident and our client has had to defend himself,' Mr Wrench told the court. Mr Wrench told the court that a 'thoroughly intoxicated' Kent had consumed 21 beers over 11 hours at the nearby Sackville Hotel and was walking home at the time of the confrontation. Mr Uzun told the court on Monday that he was at the popular restaurant for a birthday and was waiting outside for his partner. Video played to the court showed Kent and another man walking past but they doubled back and accused Uzun and his friend of 's---potting' him. In court on Monday, Mr Uzun denied that either he or his friend made a comment to provoke Kent. 'At the start I thought it was a joke,' Mr Uzun told the court. 'I didn't know what he was talking about, we were laughing about the accusations.' Mr Uzun said he told Kent to 'f--k off' and 'keep going'. He said that backed up as Kent was 'swearing and carrying on'. Mr Uzun told the court that Kent took off his watch and pushed past several people to ignite the brawl. Asked what his state of mind was at that point, Mr Uzun said: 'This bloke's going to bash me.' He said he attempted to strike Kent as the brawl spilled onto the roadway. 'And that's when he ended upside down in the tree,' Mr Uzun said. He said that he was crash tackled into the gutter by a man who was with Kent. When he got up, Mr Uzun told the court that Kent abused him again and spat at him. He told the court that he went back into the restaurant, asked for the manager and requested they preserve CCTV footage. He suffered bruises on his neck and head and grazes on his shoulder. Sgt Walsh told the court that Uzun 'beckoned' Kent and moved towards him on a number of occasions despite the presence of a security guard. 'I didn't want a fight,' Mr Uzun told the court. He also asked him why he had taken off his jumper and handed it to his friend and had not walked back into the restaurant. 'That was you throwing Mr Kent into a tree,' Sgt Walsh asked. 'Push Mr Kent away,' Mr Uzun replied. 'You agree it was more of a throw,' Sgt Walsh asked. 'A bit of both,' Mr Uzun said. The hearing before Magistrate Michael Blair continues. Kent in July last year failed in his bid to have a one charge of affray dealt with on mental health grounds before he pleaded guilty. Kent did not have a conviction recorded against him and he was sentenced to a two-year good behaviour bond. He departed Fox Sports and The Daily Telegraph following the incident.
Malay Mail
3 days ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Thai-Cambodian fighting extends into third day, Malaysia urges ceasefire
SISAKET, July 26 — Fighting on the Thai-Cambodian border extended into a third day and new flashpoints emerged today as both sides said they had acted in self-defence in the border dispute and called on the other to cease fighting and start negotiations. More than 30 people have been killed and more than 130,000 people displaced in the worst fighting between the South-east Asian neighbours in 13 years. There were clashes early today, both sides said, in the neighbouring Thai coastal province of Trat and Cambodia's Pursat Province early, a new front more than 100km from other conflict points along the long-contested border. The two countries have faced off since the killing of a Cambodian soldier late in May during a brief skirmish. Troops on both sides of the border were reinforced amid a full-blown diplomatic crisis that brought Thailand's fragile coalition government to the brink of collapse. As today, Thailand said seven soldiers and 13 civilians had been killed in the clashes, while in Cambodia five soldiers and eight civilians had been killed, said Defence Ministry spokesperson Maly Socheata. In the Thai border province of Sisaket, a university compound has been converted into temporary accommodation, where a volunteer said more than 5,000 people were staying. Samrong Khamduang said she left her farm, about 10 km from the border, when fighting broke out on Thursday. The 51-year-old's husband stayed behind to look after livestock. 'We got so scared with the sound of artillery,' she said. 'But my husband stayed back and now we lost the connection. I couldn't call him. I don't know what is happening back there.' In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, the chair of the Asean regional bloc, said he would continue to push a ceasefire proposal. Cambodia has backed Anwar's plan, while Thailand has said it agreed with it in principle. 'There is still some exchange of fire,' Anwar said, according to state news agency Bernama. He said he had asked his foreign minister 'to liaise with the respective foreign ministries and, if possible, I will continue engaging with them myself — at least to halt the fighting'. Security Council meeting Thailand's ambassador to the United Nations told a Security Council meeting yesterday that soldiers had been injured by newly planted land mines in Thai territory on two occasions since mid-July — claims Cambodia has strongly denied — and said Cambodia had then launched attacks on Thursday morning. 'Thailand urges Cambodia to immediately cease all hostilities and acts of aggression, and resume dialogue in good faith,' Cherdchai Chaivaivid told the council in remarks released to media. Cambodia's defence ministry said Thailand had launched 'a deliberate, unprovoked, and unlawful military attack' and was mobilising troops and military equipment on the border. 'These deliberate military preparations reveal Thailand's intent to expand its aggression and further violate Cambodia's sovereignty,' the ministry said in a statement today. Cambodia called for the international community to 'condemn Thailand's aggression in the strongest terms' and to prevent an expansion of its military activities, while Bangkok reiterated it wanted to resolve the dispute bilaterally. Thailand and Cambodia have bickered for decades over jurisdiction of various un-demarcated points along their 817km land border, with ownership of the ancient Hindu temples Ta Moan Thom and the 11th century Preah Vihear central to the disputes. Preah Vihear was awarded to Cambodia by the International Court of Justice in 1962, but tension escalated in 2008 after Cambodia attempted to list it as a Unesco World Heritage site. That led to skirmishes over several years and at least a dozen deaths. Cambodia in June said it had asked the court to resolve its disputes with Thailand, which says it has never recognised the court's jurisdiction and prefers a bilateral approach. — Reuters
BBC News
4 days ago
- BBC News
Manchester Airport brawl officer 'was a bully with badge'
A police officer involved in a fracas at Manchester Airport was an "uncontrolled bully with a badge", a jury has Zachary Marsden and two female colleagues were responding to a report of a man being headbutted at a Starbucks cafe in Terminal 2 arrivals when the disturbance broke out on July 23 last is alleged Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 20, resisted as he was grabbed from behind at a car park ticket machine and his brother, Muhammad Amaad, 26, intervened as both inflicted a "high level of violence" on the Gardner, defending Amaad, told their trial Liverpool Crown Court: "We see PC Marsden stride up to his brother's left side and grab first his arm and then his head and neck." Mr Amaaz is alleged to have assaulted PC Marsden and PC Lydia Ward, causing them actual bodily is also accused of the assault of emergency worker PC Ellie Cook, and the earlier assault by beating of a member of the public, Abdulkareem Ismaeil, at a Starbucks cafe in Terminal Amaad is also alleged to have assaulted PC Marsden, causing actual bodily defendants, from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, deny the allegations and claim they were lawfully acting in self-defence or in defence of each other. In her closing speech at the trial, Ms Gardner said the officers did not say they were police and made "no announcement of any sort" when they grabbed Mr Amaaz."That's crucial," she told the jury. "PC Marsden used unnecessary violence. His behaviour is indicative of how he behaves in general, certainly that day. Aggressive and uncontrolled."She said Mr Amaad was heard to say "easy, easy, easy ... no, no, no" in a bid to de-escalate the situation, but his words had "zero effect on PC Marsden" who was "pretty much covered in red mist".Ms Gardner said: "We say that from the outset, PC Marsden had no regard for procedure and acted how he wanted. His way was the only way."Mr Amaad told you his intention was solely to get PC Marsden's hands off his brother. Mr Amaad was clear that at no point did he try to grab PC Marsden's throat."She said PC Marsden had told lies in various statements about his interactions with Amaad at the pay station Gardner said: "We say it is critical when you consider PC Marsden's credibility."He has come into this courtroom and he has lied to you."She said Mr Amaad did "no more than was necessary" to defend his brother and then himself as he believed he was "under attack". Tasers were later fired at both brothers, the court has heard, and their mother, Shameem Akhtar, was injured in the defendants say PC Marsden struck her in the face with his Taser, while the officer said he believed Mr Amaad accidentally elbowed phone footage of the officer kicking and stamping on the head of Mr Amaaz was shared widely on social media last Gardner said PC Marsden went on to kick Mr Amaad in the stomach and to the groin and "smack him in the head" with his said: "Even when he has both brothers immobile and the mother has been hit in the face and is bleeding, he continues to assault Mr Amaad."He is an uncontrolled bully with a badge. He defied protocol, ethics, procedure and law."The trial continues on Monday, when the jury is expected to be sent out to begin their deliberations. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
