By CAMERON LUCADOU-WELLS
DOVETON Eagles footballer Clint “Bull” Wilson has been ordered to
attend anger management classes and an alcohol program after being found
guilty of recklessly kicking his 56-year-old father to the head in a pub fight.
Wilson, 32, of Hallam, a volunteer junior coach, was told by
magistrate Gerard Bryant in Dandenong Magistrates Court on Monday, July
22, that he was lucky to avoid jail considering his “history of
violence”.
“Had this not been your dad and your dad saying he didn’t want the
matter to proceed and . . . showing a level of forgiveness, you’d be
going to jail today,” Mr Bryant told the hard-playing ruckman and
premiership player.
“You clearly have a problem with your anger and you need to address it.
“With your prior history, you can’t afford another incident of this sort of nature . . . you’ll be going to jail.
“You’re a role model not only to your family but all those kids that you coach. What sort of role model do you want to be?”
Mr Bryant said Wilson’s prior convictions, including for assault,
affray and recklessly causing injury, suggested a “violent temperament
and a quick temper”.
Wilson, a self-employed roof tiler and Doveton Football Club Hall
of Fame member, became involved in an argument with his father, Keith,
five hours into a celebratory drink at the Prince Mark Hotel in Doveton
on April 15 last year.
The argument turned into a drunken brawl when Wilson shoved his
father backwards off his chair, causing him to strike his head ona fireplace.
The two were restrained by other patrons but Mr Wilson snr landed a
punch on his son’s face. Clint Wilson retaliated with a kick to his
father’s face as his father lay on the ground – an act of “gratuitous
violence”, Mr Bryant said.
Mr Wilson snr was knocked unconscious briefly and taken to Dandenong Hospital with facial injuries.
“[Wilson] delivered a kick with sufficient force to render his
father unconscious,” Mr Bryant said. “It could have been a far greater
tragedy.”
Police prosecutor Sergeant Tracy Weir said the case against Wilson relied solely on “quite graphic” hotel CCTV footage.
She said Mr Wilson snr and other witnesses, including family
members, would not provide statements about the incident.Mr Wilson snr
had said he didn’t want police involved in “a family matter” which had
since been resolved.
Wilson’s defence lawyer, Rob Melasecca, in asking that his client
not be jailed, said Mr Wilson snr was proud of his son’s achievements
and work ethic. He said the fight occurred within a “milieu of long
drinking from 3pm”.
“The alcohol made everyone go out of kilter,” he said.
Mr Melasecca raised Wilson’s junior coaching credentials in court
without naming the club. Family members, including Wilson’s parents,
brother and wife, attended the court.
Mr Bryant said the father’s forgiveness was a mitigating factor
but he would not sentence on the basis of the victim’s beliefs. He
placed Wilson on an 18-month conviction bond and fined him $2500.
clucadou-wells@mmpgroup.com.au
