Ex-AFL star Nicky Winmar jailed over violent assault

Former Australian Rules footballer Nicky Winmar is appealing a six-month jail sentence for assaulting a woman in Cohuna last year. Winmar was convicted of three counts of assault after he was found guilty of smashing the woman's head against a door and dragging her by her hair. The 60-year-old's lawyers are challenging the sentence, and he has been released on bail.

The victim, who requested anonymity, testified that Winmar's attack left her emotionally devastated, describing him as having turned her into "a shadow of the person she was." Magistrate Trieu Huynh remarked on the severity of Winmar's actions, stating that they were "unprovoked and came seemingly out of nowhere." The magistrate accepted that Winmar had made significant strides in rehabilitation, but emphasized the seriousness of the offense and its impact on the victim.

Winmar's history of alcohol-fueled violent behavior, including a 2019 assault on a taxi driver, was also brought to light during the trial. His lawyers argued for a community corrections order and rehabilitation rather than incarceration, citing Winmar's struggles with depression, PTSD, and alcohol use. They also mentioned Winmar standing up against racism, suggesting that a community corrections order may be a more appropriate course of action.

Winmar was removed from the Australian Football Hall of Fame and a bronze statue of his response to racist abuse was removed from Perth Stadium. The sentencing hearing took place after a three-day trial in May, during which the prosecution sought a jail term, citing Winmar's prior convictions for assault. However, Winmar's defense team maintained that a community corrections order would better serve Winmar and the community. The appeal hearing for Winmar's sentence has been set for a later date.