Paul Kent’s wild street brawl was sparked by seven brutal words from a stranger – as ex-Fox Sports, News Corp commentator learns his fate
- Paul Kent gets two-year conditional bail for good behavior
- He eventually pleaded guilty to one charge of affray
- A wild street fight ensued outside a Sydney pub in April
Rugby journalist and commentator Paul Kent was involved in a wild street brawl after a stranger challenged him and asked if he was going to a football match to raise awareness of domestic violence.
Kent, 54, was given a suspended sentence on Wednesday after pleading guilty to his role in a wild street brawl near Totti’s Rozelle in Sydney’s west.
Sydney Downing Centre District Court Judge Jennifer Price refused to grant his application in the case against him, which is accused of affray, which falls under the Mental Health Act.
Reading out the facts from the police files, Mrs Price told the court that Tamer Uzun, an unknown man, had asked Kent if he was ‘going to the game tomorrow’.
Kent believed this was a reference to a domestic violence charge he had received the previous year against a 33-year-old woman, a charge he was eventually acquitted of.
Kent said ‘no’ and Uzun then replied ‘that’s right! You like to bash women,’ Ms Price told the court – before the court heard the pair exchanged blows.
Kent was acquitted of charges that he attacked a 33-year-old woman in his home in May last year.
Mr. Uzun said, ‘Come on, you weak dog.’
Kent replied, “I’m staying right here, brother, I’m standing right here, damn it, come here now… you dogface.”
Rugby league journalist and commentator Paul Kent has been given a two-year suspended sentence for good behaviour after pleading guilty to his role in a wild street brawl outside a pub in central Sydney in April
The court at Sydney’s Downing Centre heard that Kent (pictured, centre) was suffering from severe depression and alcohol addiction at the time of the incident.
The court also heard on Wednesday that Kent suffered six broken ribs and a collapsed lung as a result of the incident.
Judge Jennifer Price did not enter a conviction against Kent and sentenced him to a two-year suspended sentence.
Widely shared videos showed Kent hitting his head on a tree after the brawl moved from the sidewalk to the street.
“It appears that Mr Kent has fared considerably worse than the co-defendant as he sustained quite serious injuries,” said Ms Price.
The court heard on Wednesday that Kent suffered six broken ribs and a collapsed lung as a result of the incident.
Mrs Price took into account that Kent was suffering from severe depression and alcohol addiction at the time.
The court heard that Kent had exchanged words with the other man, who had made comments about Kent being charged with domestic violence. He was found not guilty of those charges, which the court had previously dismissed.
Following the incident, Kent was sacked by Fox Sports and the Daily Telegraph.
Ny Breaking Australia reported that Kent was fired as commentator earlier this week.
Tamer Uzun, 35, who was involved in the fight with Kent, was also charged with affray.
He has pleaded not guilty and will appear in court again later this month.
Late last year, Kent was acquitted of charges that he had strangled and assaulted his then-partner, in what he called a “vindication.”