A man who believed he was the ‘unofficial sheriff’ of a New Zealand coastal town has been jailed for five years for killing a champion surfer with one punch.
Judge Peter McGrath at Newcastle District Court said on Friday that Grant Coleman, the younger brother of NSW Waratahs coach Darren Coleman, had taken the law into his own hands to become former professional surfer Chris ‘Davo’ Davidson’s ‘executioner’.
Judge McGrath jailed 43-year-old Coleman, who pleaded guilty to one charge of assault occasioning death and one charge of assault, for five years with a minimum of three years.
The roofer, who has suffered a brain injury from playing rugby league, attacked Davidson, 45, outside South West Rocks Country Club at around 11pm on September 24, 2022.
He had previously seen Davidson, who was convicted in 2017 of indecently assaulting a 15-year-old girl at her home, talking to a 19-year-old woman and calling him a ‘paedophile’.
Grant Coleman pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing death and one count of assault and was sentenced to five years in prison on Friday
Judge McGrath said Coleman had intensely disliked Davidson and developed a fixation with him.
“Mr. Coleman felt justified in his actions toward Mr. Davidson,” the judge said.
‘He felt justified in taking the law into his own hands.
‘He felt justified in punching Mr Davidson in the head.
‘In Mr Coleman’s worldview he was something of the unofficial sheriff of South West Rocks and he decided who was and who was not acceptable to the town.
‘I have to say I have no doubt that many in the local community would have agreed with him. Mr. Davidson was more than a pest.
“To the best of Mr. Coleman’s knowledge and belief, he was a serious and repeat abuser of young women. He had physically and emotionally abused a friend of Mr. Coleman, damaged her property and traumatized her two young children, but Mr. Coleman took the law into his own hands.
“He was Mr. Davidson’s judge and jury. Tragically, Mr. Coleman also became Mr. Davidson’s executioner.”
The judge said both men, who had been living on past glories, were drinking separately at the country club when Coleman saw Davidson approach a 19-year-old girl.
Coleman had attacked former pro surfer Chris Davidson outside South West Rocks Country Club at around 11pm on September 24, 2022.
He said Coleman had become aware of wider concerns from members of the South West Rocks community about the potential danger Davidson posed to young women.
Davidson told the girl at the club that he was a former professional surfer, kissed her on both cheeks, offered to take her to France and described her as the most beautiful girl he had ever seen.
Coleman asked his friends in the neighborhood if the girl knew Davidson was a predator.
He started shouting at Davidson ‘You’re a paedophile’ before a scuffle broke out.
Coleman confronted Davidson again about ten minutes later and grabbed him firmly by the throat.
Coleman was escorted out of the club and waited outside until Davidson came out around 11 p.m. The pair exchanged words before Coleman punched Davidson once in the jaw.
Davidson, who had lost the use of his left arm and shoulder in a previous car accident, fell to the ground and hit his head, knocking him unconscious.
He was treated at the scene by paramedics but died a short time later at Kempsey Hospital.
In his defense, Coleman claimed he had heard rumors about Davidson’s past behavior with young girls and tried to protect the community when he confronted him, but that he never intended to kill him.
A psychological report found that Coleman’s undiagnosed brain injury, caused by his years in rugby league, had caused a significant deterioration in his impulse control.