Olango guilty of assault following punch at Jingili house party

One time West Coast Eagles recruit Tony Olango was not scared but angry when he attacked another teenager at a house party in 2017, a court heard.

Tony Olango was picked up by AFL club West Coast in the rookie draft a week after the assault. Picture: Keri Megelus

ONE time West Coast Eagles recruit Tony Olango was angry rather than scared when he attacked another teenager at a house party in Jingili in 2017, a judge has ruled.

In finding Olango guilty of aggravated assault in the Darwin Local Court yesterday, judge Therese Austin ruled Olango was “the aggressor” when he followed Dwyn Rynskisi across the road and punched him in the head, knocking him out and breaking his eye socket.

Olango had claimed in giving evidence that he was “scared” of the much smaller man after he swore at him and shaped up for a fight but yesterday Ms Austin rejected his version of events as “implausible”.

“When he put his hands up, his fists up, I felt like that was the time I had to defend myself,” he said.

“I hit him because I was scared and I felt like I had to defend myself”.

But Ms Austin found the evidence showed Mr Rynski did not raise his fists in a threatening manner and Olango did not believe he was acting in self-defence.

“I do not accept his evidence, his testimony in this matter and I reject his account,” she said.

“Mr Olango pursued Mr Rynski across the road and then struck or punched him as Mr Rynski was attempting to flee him.”

“Mr Olango is the aggressor, he is following Mr Dwyn Rynski across the road, who is retreating from him.”

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Further, Ms Austin found Olango punched Mr Rynski “at least one more time” when he was lying “prone on the ground” and had since tried to “minimise” and “downplay” his conduct on the night.

“There’s no evidence basis on which Mr Olango could form a belief that his conduct in punching Mr Rynski was necessary,” she said.

“He upset Mr Olango and more than that he made him angry.”

Olango was formally granted bail on a $1000 surety and will return to court for sentencing on July 24.