Parent William Marius Gaw faces court for allegedly headbutting junior league official
A man charged with headbutting a volunteer official at an under 10s rugby league match on the northern beaches was acting in self defence, Manly Local Court was told on Friday.
A man charged with headbutting a volunteer official at an under 10s rugby league match on the northern beaches was acting in self defence, Manly Local Court was told on Friday.
William Marius Gaw, 44, of Collaroy, has pleaded not guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm after the incident at Newport Oval on August 25 last year.
Police allege Mr Gaw used his forehead to break the nose of volunteer ground manager Frank Sergi, 48, after the two men became involved in an argument over an ambulance being called for Mr Gaw’s injured son.
The boy, 10, broke his arm moments before the final whistle in the semi-final match between the Narraweena Hawks and the Narrabeen Sharks.
But Mr Gaw told Magistrate Michelle Goodwin that he did not headbutt Mr Sergi and had only used his head to “push him away” because he feared he would be punched.
Mr Sergi told the court that a trainer for the Hawks had asked him, in his role as ground manager, to call an ambulance.
When Mr Sergi told Mr Gaw an ambulance was on the way, Mr Gaw said that he and his wife would drive the boy to nearby Mona Vale Hospital.
Mr Gaw said Mr Sergi became upset and aggressive and started swearing repeatedly in earshot of his wife.
“He shoved me across the chest.
“I was very scared.
“He was right up in my face and I pushed him away with my head.
“I caught him on the nose.”
Mr Gaw said he immediately apologised.
Mr Sergi told the court that he was not upset about Mr Gaw not wanting an ambulance called and was actually trying to calm the situation when Mr Gaw stood up and walked towards him.
“I started feeling threatened when he walked towards me,” Mr Sergi said.
“He looked scary.
“I put my hands up and said ‘f*** off, get out of my face and sit down and wait for the ambulance’.
“Before I knew it, he came up to me and said ‘don’t swear’, grabbed me and headbutted me and broke my nose. There was blood everywhere.”
A witness who was at the game, Matthew Wilcox, told the court that he heard Mr Sergi say “I’m just doing my job, the ambulance is on its way.”
“The father (Mr Gaw) headbutted him,” Mr Wilcox said. “His forehead hit his nose.”
Another witness, Natalie Twells, said she saw Mr Gaw “lunge” at Mr Sergi, causing him to “stumble down”.
A witness for the defence, Nicola Richards, described Mr Sergi as aggressive with his chest “puffed out” when he was talking to Mr Gaw about the ambulance.
Another defence witness, Olive Vehikite, said Mr Sergi seemed annoyed when he was told an ambulance was not needed.
Ms Vehikite said Mr Sergi pushed Mr Gaw on the shoulder.
In September Mr Gaw was handed a 10-year ban, by the NSW Junior League Association conduct review panel. from attending junior games, in relation to the same incident.
The last five years of this penalty was suspended pending good behaviour during the first five years.
Magistrate Goodwin will deliver her judgment in Manly Local Court on March 13.
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