Latrell Mitchell avoids criminal conviction for giving Josh Addo-Carr his rifle during Taree trip
NRL star Latrell Mitchell has avoided a criminal conviction for providing fellow player Josh Addo-Carr with the unlawful use of his rifle.
Mid-North Coast
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NRL star Latrell Mitchell has avoided a conviction for his role in unlawfully permitting Josh Addo-Carr use of his firearm during a weekend away at his Caffreys Flat farm, near Taree, in April.
It took Taree Court Magistrate Claire Girotto about five minutes to sentence Mitchell to a 12-month community corrections order, labelling his offending at the ‘lowest end’ for a charge of this nature.
He had pleaded guilty.
There was little doubt in Ms Girotto’s mind that Mitchell had made a mistake when he authorised Addo-Carr the use of his firearm during the now-infamous weekend away with fellow footballers at his property.
The incident also saw him fined $50,000 by the NRL for breaching COVID-19 protocols.
Ms Girotto said the footage of the firearm being discharged, which was played in court, clearly showed that Addo-Carr had not put anyone’s safety in danger.
“There was no risk of safety to anyone,” Ms Girotto said.
“It doesn’t seem to me to be a very serious example of this type of offending.“
She said the position in which Addo-Carr was standing, his firm grasp of the rifle and the direction in which it was pointing, was particularly important in determining the outcome of the sentence.
The result provides a significant boost to Mitchell’s dreams of launching his post-career business back at the 22ha property.
The court heart that Mitchell purchased the land for not only he and his extended family to enjoy, but for commercial reasons.
He plans to turn it into rural retreat designed for city-dwellers to come and visit the country and participate in adventure-based activities.
“The purpose is to have a place for his family and extended family to come and for his life after football,” his lawyer, Matt Davis, said.
“His business venture, Black Fella Adventures, will allow people from the city to come to the property and participate in rural cultural, fishing and outdoor hunting expeditions.”
“It’s a matter close to his heart.”
Mr Davis said Mitchell was a person that sought solace in his pursuits away from the limelight.
“Mr Mitchell is a man who, despite his profile, leads a relatively quiet humble life,” Mr Davis said.
He said over the past two or three years Mitchell has participated in a range of community-based activities, such as the ‘heart health program, Koori Knockout and Indigenous health challenge.’
“He also regularly attends local football clubs to assist in presentations, hangs around with and speaks to fans, conducts training clinics and attends Aboriginal golf days with elders,” he said
“These sorts of things are not matters that Mr Mitchell toots his horn over, they are just matters he does for free.
“Sadly, these are not matters about his character which are exemplified more generally.”
In sentencing, Ms Girotto took into account Mitchell’s good work in the community, the fact it was his first offence, and his relatively young age.
Mitchell made no comment outside court at the conclusion of the proceedings.