Soccer Player Sentenced Following On-Field “Sucker Punch” Leading to Assault Conviction
Both civil and even criminal repercussions occasionally arise following recreational and even professional sporting assaults in Canada. Reasons for sentencing were published this week by the BC Provincial Court highlighting a case of the latter.
In this week’s case (R v. Miletic) the Defendant sucker punched a fellow competitor during an adult league recreational soccer game in New Westminster, BC. The punch “broke the victim’s orbital bone and caused him negative longer-term effects“. At trial the Defendant was convicted of assault causing bodily harm.
The Court summarized the circumstances of the offence as follows: