FRIDAY: Judge Richard Keen has handed Collie footballer Matthew Blackford a 12 month suspended term of imprisonment after a jury found him guilty of grievous bodily harm.
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Judge Richard Keen also handed Blackford a $10,000 fine and ordered he pay $4062 compensation to victim Aaron Murphy in the next 28 days.
Judge Keen told Blackford he was not a dirty player but was on the cusp of going to jail today.
“By apologising to the umpire and Leschenault Lions captain David Newman after the incident it tells me you demonstrated a momentary error of judgement, an out of character moment for you as a citizen and a football player,” Judge Keen said.
“You are highly respected in your community, have a good work ethic and minor criminal record.”
AFL hall of famer Stephen Michael was one of many community members to give Blackford a glowing character reference.
Judge Keen referred to this document when telling Blackford he was a “highly respected member of his community”.
"Mr Blackford's commitment to his community is demonstrated through the many charity fundraising events he has been involved with," Judge Keen said.
The Collie community rallied together in the gallery and an audible sigh of relief was heard when the verdict was given.
THURSDAY: Prominent Collie footballer Matthew Blackford has been found guilty of grievous bodily harm after an on-field altercation left an opponent with serious facial injuries.
The Collie Eagles captain was arrested after a 2013 game against the Harvey Brunswick Leschenault Lions when midfielder Aaron Murphy had his cheekbone fractured in four places.
The jury ruled that Blackford intentionally drove his knee into Mr Murphy’s face after the latter had been awarded a free kick for a high tackle.
During the three day trial in the Busselton District Court, the court heard how Blackford described the incident as a brain snap and made repeated efforts to apologise for his actions after the game.
Defence lawyer David Walls had said the injury was the result of a scuffle between two players that went wrong but a nine eye witnesses took to the stand to testify they had seen Blackford make a striking content by his knee.
Mr Murphy told the court on Tuesday he could not clearly remember the incident but the injuries he had received still cause him pain to this day.
Appearing via video link on Wednesday, maxillofacial surgeon Paul Sillifant told the court a heavy, blunt force caused the injury and an operation had been necessary to put Mr Murphy’s cheekbone back in place.
He said the fractured bone has been pushed in a long way which caused a large facial deformity.
Prosecutor Linda Keane told the jury in her closing statement that the state was not suggesting Matthew Blackford acted like a thug, rather he had an out of character brain snap, but that did not make his actions okay.
“No player should have to risk being the subject of the deliberate act of another when on the field,” she said.
“None of the HBL players said anything critical of Matthew Blackford as a person and in the three umpires we have completely unbiased and objective witnesses.
Outside the court Blackford's team-mate Jason Mead said he felt Blackford was sure to be "shattered and disappointed" by the verdict but that it would not have come as a surprise.
The majority of the Collie Eagles Football team were in the court with Blackford’s family reduced to tears when the jury read out the guilty verdict.
Collie Eagles team mate Jason Mead told media outside the court he was surprised by the guilty verdict.
“We are very disappointed,” Mr Mead said.
Mr Mead said “quite clearly” everyone thought the investigation had been flawed and one sided.
He said Blackford was feeling “shattered”.
Mr Mead said he did not believe Blackford was “surprised” by the verdict and said Blackford had been “worried the whole time”.
“He’s a strong guy and he will take it on the chin,” he said.
Blackford was granted bail on Thursday and will be sentenced by Judge Richard Keen on Friday morning.
The maximum penalty for a grievous bodily harm conviction in Australia is 10 years imprisonment.