Broncos star Ezra Mam faces possibility of Crown appealing ‘extremely lenient’ sentence

A leading criminal lawyer believes Ezra Mam’s legal troubles could be far from over following the Broncos star’s “extremely lenient” sentence for his involvement in a head-on car crash.

Broncos star Ezra Mam escaped conviction for his involvement on a head-on car crash. Picture: NewsWire/Glenn Campbell

A leading Sydney criminal lawyer has called for the NRL to ban Broncos star Ezra Mam from playing for up to 16 weeks – before predicting the Crown could appeal a court sentence which he felt was “extremely lenient, and well and truly fails the pub test.”

In a legal ruling that has triggered national outrage, Mam avoided conviction and was fined $850 after being involved in a head-on car crash in Brisbane’s west on October 18 which left a child and woman injured.

A Brisbane court also disqualified Mam’s licence for six months, despite not having a licence.

The NRL Integrity Unit can now finalise its investigation and could release Mam’s punishment by Christmas, but more likely next year with the 21-year-old facing a lengthy suspension and heavy fine from the league.

Sydney-born Mam pleaded guilty to one count of driving while relevant drug is present in blood and without a licence.

Social media went into meltdown over the past 24 hours with the sentence drawing the ire of many fans.

“Because of the serious ramifications over what happened, it wouldn’t surprise me at all if Mr Mam was given a suspension of up to 16 weeks – you’d certainly be expecting months, not weeks,” said Paul McGirr, who is also an accredited specialist in criminal law.

The NRL and Broncos are yet to impose any sanctions on Mam. Picture: NRL Images

“I say this because Mr Mam has only completed one month of rehabilitation. Any rehab for drug use needs at least six to 12 months to have an effect, and it’s ongoing.

“Putting Mr Mam into the pressure-cooker of rugby league, while he still has these issues in the background, would be unfair to him and his teammates. The difficult situation is that it’s now up to the NRL to actually punish this particular offence appropriately.

“And I would be extremely surprised if the Crown didn’t appeal this particular matter.

“As a criminal lawyer I don’t like commenting on lenient sentences but certainly this sentence was extremely lenient.

“There are two objectives in sentencing. One is specific deterrence, and I’m sure Mr Mam will learn from this as he told everybody in his prepared speech, and secondly, is general deterrence.

“The great concern I have is the fact other 21-year-olds who look up to these icons, see a man the same age who has had a cocktail of drugs, knowing he shouldn’t drive because he’s lost his licence, get into a vehicle, write off two vehicles and injure three people.

“I ask the question: Does this sentence pass the pub test in respect to a fine and no conviction? From the people I have spoken with, and other legal professionals, it well and truly fails the pub test. And I say that as a criminal defence lawyer.”

If the Crown appealed and won, Mam would then be re-sentenced in a district court.

The NRL may feel additional pressure to increase Mam’s punishment given the court’s sentence.

The sentencing Brisbane magistrate told the court Man’s behaviour was “stupid” and demanded the Broncos star “learn from his mistakes.”

“I wasn’t present at the court proceedings and I don’t know what subjective material was tendered but the magistrate certainly raised a big stick in his comments, but it then appears the stick was put away,” McGirr said.

Criminal lawyer Paul McGirr believes the Crown could appeal the sentence. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers

“Mr Mam should definitely be allowed to play the game, it’s just a matter of when.

“I know (Brisbane coach) Michael Maguire well and I’m sure he will be a positive role model for Mr Mam.”

With Mam unavailable to start next season, veteran recruit Ben Hunt will join Adam Reynolds in Brisbane’s halves. When Mam returns from his expected suspension, Hunt will either move to hooker or come off the bench in a utility role

Hunt’s first field session with Brisbane is on January 6. He was at Red Hill on Monday but was back in Sydney on Tuesday to start moving his family back to Brisbane.

Brisbane has ruled out sacking Mam, who failed a roadside drug test before returning a positive result to an additional test.

Originally published as Broncos star Ezra Mam faces possibility of Crown appealing ‘extremely lenient’ sentence