Steven Lawrence fined $5000 for Prince of Wales brawl

[Snakeman66]

Steven Lawrence fined $5000 for Prince of Wales brawl

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/ ... 61,00.html

October 30, 2007 11:58am
FORMER Brisbane Lions and St Kilda defender Steven Lawrence has been fined $5,000 without conviction following a Grand Final eve pub brawl last year.

Lawrence, 31, of South Melbourne, pleaded guilty in Melbourne Magistrates' Court today to one charge of intentionally causing injury over the incident at the Prince of Wales Hotel in St Kilda on September 29 last year.

Lawrence had been with a group of friends and fellow AFL stars, including Brownlow medallists Michael Voss and Simon Black and St Kilda spearhead Fraser Gehrig, when the fight erupted.

The court heard Lawrence placed his hand on the victim, Julius Smith, and swung his fist at his head, causing him to fall on the ground unconscious.

Lawrence left the scene and refused to comment when shown footage of the incident during a police interview, the court was told.

Lawrence's lawyer, Ian Hill QC, said his client had been provoked and regretted the incident and the public embarrassment it caused him.

"It was not his desire that night to go out and seek trouble and look for a fight," he said.

Mr Hill argued a fine would be appropriate considering Lawrence had never been in trouble with the law.

He argued a conviction could hinder his career prospects in property development.

While Magistrate Paul Smith said the incident was serious, he noted Lawrence's clean record, supportive character references and the fact a conviction could harm his career.

"Despite the fact this is a very serious offence, you've never done anything before or since," Mr Smith said.

[killa_gram]

Has been a great player for Old Scotch in the ammos this year.

[Dan Warna]

While Magistrate Paul Smith said the incident was serious, he noted Lawrence's clean record, supportive character references and the fact a conviction could harm his career.

"Despite the fact this is a very serious offence, you've never done anything before or since," Mr Smith said.

lol

[savatage]

Yeah SL had never been in trouble before that incident *whistles to himself*

[Spinner]

Let me get this straight.....

Aka and Lawrence hate eachother....

Yet Lawrence seems to be best mates with Voss, Black and Co.



Does this equal Voss, Black and Co hate Aka??? Cos I always thought it was the other way round, with most of Brisbane dispising Lawrence.

?

[suss]

I don't know all the facts but they showed the footage on 9 news earlier and based on that alone I think he can consider himself extremely fortunate to escape a conviction.

King hitting someone, let alone doing so when you're surrounded by four other footballers, has got to be one of the more cowardly acts a person could commit.

[saintbrat]

vision will be on CH ten News- Stevens lost the curls,

[Eastern]

Let's hope that this is the END of this story. Too many references to StKFC for me !!

[my les foote]

They will probably change this before everyone wakes up and make me look like an idiot.

But at the moment, the picture in "The Age":

Steven Lawrence leaves Melbourne Magistrates Court yesterday.

seems to show a very poorly dressed and very unrepentant Lawrence leaving the Magistrates Court