2 days ago
‘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.
