Latest news with #TamerUzun
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
Man who threw footy commentator Paul Kent into a tree during wild street fight has a huge win in court
The man who was involved in a wild brawl with Paul Kent has had the affray charge against him dropped after pleading self defence and alleging that the former Fox Sports star spat at him during their infamous street brawl. On Monday, Tamer Uzun appeared at Manly Local Court in relation to the altercation that took place outside Totti's restaurant in Rozelle in April 2024. Uzun had one charge of affray dismissed after Magistrate Michael Blair heard submissions from prosecutors and Uzun's legal counsel, who argued their client had acted in self-defence. In July, Kent had attempted to have his affray charge dealt with on the grounds of his mental health. The 55-year-old failed in that application and was slapped with a good behaviour bond, but avoided a criminal conviction. Kent parted ways with NewsCorp and Fox after a video of the brawl went viral online. Kent (in black pants and T-shirt, centre) and Uzun (far left) made headlines when footage of their physical clash went viral On Monday, Uzun's legal counsel, Bryan Wrench, told the court that his client was sober at the time and did not initiate the wild brawl. 'Mr Kent is the person provoking the incident and our client has had to defend himself,' Wrench argued. Kent acknowledged accusations that he had consumed 21 beers across the space of 11 hours at the Sackville Hotel prior to the physical clash in comments made in February. The court was shown footage of the moment that Kent advanced through a group of people towards Uzun before the scuffle unfolded. The melee ended with Kent, 55, being thrown into a tree. He suffered six broken ribs and a collapsed lung as a result. Prosecutor Sergeant Adrian Walsh argued that Uzun had thrown punches and had not attempted to curtail the incident. Uzun had been at the restaurant for a birthday and had been waiting for his partner outside the restaurant. Kent accused Uzun of 's**t-potting' him, but during Monday's court hearing, Uzun denied any allegations that he had attempted to provoke the situation. 'At the start, I thought it was a joke,' Uzun said. The court also heard Uzun's claim that Kent (pictured) spat at him during the melee 'I didn't know what he was talking about, we were laughing about the accusations.' He had told Kent to 'f*** off' and 'keep going', but added that the NRL reporter had continued to remonstrate with him. In the video, Kent can also be seen attempting to take off his watch. Noting the moment, Uzun told the court that he had thought 'this bloke's going to bash me'. He added that he had attempted to strike Kent as the melee exploded into the middle of the road. Uzun alleged that Kent had got back to his feet after being thrown into the tree, before he allegedly spat at him. 'I didn't want a fight,' Uzun said, replying to suggestions by Sergeant Walsh that he had 'beckoned' to Kent to come at him. Handing down his judgement, Magistrate Michael Blair explained that it could not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Uzun had acted unreasonably in the process of throwing a punch at Kent. He acknowledged that Uzun had taken his jumper off in preparation for the fracas before adding that Uzun had not helped the situation by furiously firing back at Kent. But noting that Kent was the 'more aggressive' party, Magistrate Blair chose to dismiss the affray charge against Uzun, adding: 'In the circumstances and with all the evidence, it cannot be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.'
News.com.au
2 days ago
- News.com.au
‘Going to bash me': Man involved in Paul Kent brawl claims self defence
A man who was involved in a wild brawl with Paul Kent has told a court that he was afraid the rugby league journalist and commentator was going to 'bash' him during a now-infamous incident outside a Sydney restaurant. Tamer Uzun, 37, on Monday appeared in Manly Local Court for a hearing after pleading not guilty to one count of affray stemming from his altercation with Kent outside Totti's Rozelle in April last year. In footage which quickly went viral on social media, Kent pushed past several people before trading blows with Mr Uzun on the public street, with the fight ending when Kent was thrown into a tree. The prosecution has argued Mr Uzun threw punches and failed to de-escalate the incident when he continued to trade verbal barbs with Kent and took off his jumper. Police prosecutor Sergeant Adrian Walsh told the court on Monday that Mr Uzun threw punches before grabbing and throwing Kent into a tree. However Mr Uzun's solicitor Bryan Wrench told the court his client was acting in self defence. He said that Mr Uzun, who was sober at the time, was wrongly accused of making comments towards Kent. 'Mr Kent is the person provoking the incident and our client has had to defend himself,' Mr Wrench told the court. Mr Wrench told the court that a 'thoroughly intoxicated' Kent had consumed 21 beers over 11 hours at the nearby Sackville Hotel and was walking home at the time of the confrontation. Mr Uzun told the court on Monday that he was at the popular restaurant for a birthday and was waiting outside for his partner. Video played to the court showed Kent and another man walking past but they doubled back and accused Uzun and his friend of 's---potting' him. In court on Monday, Mr Uzun denied that either he or his friend made a comment to provoke Kent. 'At the start I thought it was a joke,' Mr Uzun told the court. 'I didn't know what he was talking about, we were laughing about the accusations.' Mr Uzun said he told Kent to 'f--k off' and 'keep going'. He said that backed up as Kent was 'swearing and carrying on'. Mr Uzun told the court that Kent took off his watch and pushed past several people to ignite the brawl. Asked what his state of mind was at that point, Mr Uzun said: 'This bloke's going to bash me.' He said he attempted to strike Kent as the brawl spilled onto the roadway. 'And that's when he ended upside down in the tree,' Mr Uzun said. He said that he was crash tackled into the gutter by a man who was with Kent. When he got up, Mr Uzun told the court that Kent abused him again and spat at him. He told the court that he went back into the restaurant, asked for the manager and requested they preserve CCTV footage. He suffered bruises on his neck and head and grazes on his shoulder. Sgt Walsh told the court that Uzun 'beckoned' Kent and moved towards him on a number of occasions despite the presence of a security guard. 'I didn't want a fight,' Mr Uzun told the court. He also asked him why he had taken off his jumper and handed it to his friend and had not walked back into the restaurant. 'That was you throwing Mr Kent into a tree,' Sgt Walsh asked. 'Push Mr Kent away,' Mr Uzun replied. 'You agree it was more of a throw,' Sgt Walsh asked. 'A bit of both,' Mr Uzun said. The hearing before Magistrate Michael Blair continues. Kent in July last year failed in his bid to have a one charge of affray dealt with on mental health grounds before he pleaded guilty. Kent did not have a conviction recorded against him and he was sentenced to a two-year good behaviour bond. He departed Fox Sports and The Daily Telegraph following the incident.
