A-grade rugby league player tasered by police avoids conviction over breaking up bar fight
A rugby league player who tried to break up a bar fight has escaped conviction despite being tasered and pepper sprayed by police.
An Eastern Suburbs Magpies Rugby League Football club player was handed a good behaviour bond in Bundaberg Magistrates Court on Tuesday morning, after a drunken bar fight led to him getting tasered and capsicum sprayed by police.
Bennett Louis Ooms Otineru, a 31-year-old father of five and A-grade rugby league player, pleaded guilty to one count of obstructing a police officer, after he tried to break up a bar fight in Bargara last year.
Police prosecutor Vicki Kennedy-Grills said police were called to a disturbance outside of the Bargara Central Hotel on Targo St at about 2am on August 3, 2024, where it is alleged Otineru was found to be verbally fighting with patrons outside the pub before then obstructing officers in performing their duties.
He was perceived to be highly aggressive by police and “due to his demeanour and size” was consequently capsicum sprayed, tasered, detained, taken to the watchouse and charged.
His defence lawyer, Christine Smith, said her client had stepped in to de-escalate a situation involving a close friend when he was suddenly grabbed from behind and, not realising it was a police officer, reacted.
“He is deeply ashamed,” she said.
“This behaviour is totally abnormal for him.”
Multiple character references were submitted on his behalf, including one from his employer John Shriver, where Otineru works as a delivery driver at Rum City Foods, and a second from Kelly Hammond, from the Eastern Suburbs Magpies.
Upon sentencing, magistrate John McInnes took into account his timely plea of guilty and heavy presence in the community.
“You’re a person of good character,” he said.
“You’re actively involved in the community. You’re a net contributor to this community.
“This particular incident was out of character for you.”
He acknowledged the incident occurred because Otineru believed he could step in and help de-escalate the unfolding situation.
“Your mistake was to get riled or impatient with police when they proposed to take over,” Mr McInnes said.
“You could have just backed down and left it to them.
“You got tasered and capsicum sprayed. I’ll take that into account as being an immediate consequence for your behaviour at the time.”
Mr McInnes said he did not find it appropriate to “make an example” of Otineru to “send a message to the wider community” and sentenced him to a nine-month $600 good behaviour bond.
This means Otineru cannot commit an offence for nine months or he will be returned to court or ordered to pay the $600.
“It’s like having a fine hanging over your head for the next nine months,” Mr McInnes said.
