Jaman Maurice Rio pleads guilty to previous bodily harm over punch that knocked chef out for five minutes

WATCH THE VIDEO: A former Titans development squad player knocked a chef out for five minutes when he punched him on a Gold Coast nightclub dance floor.

A FORMER promising rugby league player knocked a chef out for five minutes when he punched him on a Gold Coast nightclub dance floor.

Jaman Maurice Rio threw the punch after the chef tried to stop him dancing with a group of girls including the chef’s girlfriend and sister.

Rio, 21, pleaded guilty in the Southport Magistrates Court today to grievous bodily harm.

The former Gold Coast Titans development squad player walked out the front doors after being sentenced to 18 months prison wholly suspended for two years.

Jaman Rio (right) leaves Southport courthouse after receiving a suspended sentence for a one punch attack in a Surfers nightclub.

“This was violent, irresponsible conduct by you,” Judge Catherine Muir said.

She said single punch attacks in nightclubs were too prevalent before the courts.

Judge Muir also ordered Rio pay $2700 in compensation to the victim.

Prosecutor Emily Coley said Rio was at Shooters nightclub in Surfers Paradise on August 9, 2018 when he tried to dance with a group, including a number of girls.

The chef asked him to leave the girls alone as they all had boyfriends.

Jaman Rio (right) and lawyer Campbell MacCallum, of Maloney MacCallum Abdelshahied Lawyers.

Later the chef’s sister also asked him to leave and there was a confrontation during which the woman pushed Rio.

The court was told the chef told Rio: “Leave her be, f*** off.”

The chef was taken away and his girlfriend tried to calm him down.

Rio was then pushed by the chef’s sister, the court was told.

Ms Coley said the chef rushed to stand between his sister and Rio.

That is when Rio punched the chef once in the jaw, knocking him to the floor and knocking him out for five minutes.

“He was left with bleeding to the head, fractures to the jaw and sinus wall and required surgery,” Ms Coley said.

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The court was told the chef needed to take three weeks off work due to the injury and required plates and screws to be inserted.

Defence barrister Marty Longhurst, instructed by Moloney MacCallum Abdelshahied Lawyers, said Rio was remorseful.

“He is the second oldest of five siblings and looked up to as being the man of the household,” he said.

“He is very ashamed of his actions.”

Mr Longhurst said Rio, who moved to Australia from New Zealand as a teenager, played for the Gold Coast Titans development squad as a teenager.

He said Rio now worked in construction and had hopes to own a construction business.