'Lucky man' dodges jail for coward punch

A MAGISTRATE has used the aggravated assault conviction of a young Darwin man to warn young people about the potentially lethal consequences of coward-punch offences.

Kris Cooper

A MAGISTRATE has used the aggravated assault conviction of a young Darwin man to warn young people about the potentially lethal consequences of coward-punch offences.

Yesterday, Kris Matthew Cooper, 22, was convicted but spared jail in Darwin Magistrates Court for landing a single punch on another man during a confrontation between their female partners in Mitchell St.

Magistrate Peter Maley said Cooper was lucky he had not caused more harm to the victim than swelling and bruising to his face in the January 11 incident.

"You see in the media these young kids that are dying from one punch, you put yourself in a dangerous situation," Mr Maley said.

"If the hit was worse and the victim had died, you could've been charged with manslaughter."

Cooper, an NTFL Division 1 and 2 footballer for Wanderers, faced Mr Maley surrounded by family after initially pleading guilty.

He was celebrating his brother's birthday and had exited a Mitchell St pub with friends after its 4am closure.

A confrontation between his girlfriend Michelle Friel and a woman accompanying the victim began after they crossed into McLachlan St.

While walking towards Smith St, the victim stepped between the two women to stop the argument before allegedly being clipped by Ms Friel, and coward-punched by Cooper. The court heard both women had been charged over the incident.

Cooper's lawyer said his client should not receive jail time because a fine would be sufficient. The court heard that Cooper had spent three days in custody before Mr Maley revealed his decision.

"You've had a taste of what it's like - and I'm going to convict you, so if you're before the court again you will go to prison," he said. "You're not the Lone Ranger and you have no excuse. Don't be a fool."

Along with the conviction, Cooper was fined $850 plus a $40 levy.

The NSW Government last week introduced an eight-year mandatory minimum sentence for drug and alcohol-affected coward-punch assaults.