New details have been revealed about a wild street brawl after rugby league journalist and commentator Paul Kent pleaded guilty to his role, which ended with him being thrown upside down into a tree and suffering serious injuries.
Kent fronted Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday where he failed in a bid to have the charges dealt with on mental health grounds after footage showed him trading punches with another man after an 11-hour drinking session.
Kent was charged with one count of affray after he and another man were involved in a verbal argument that turned physical outside Totti’s Rozelle on April 27.
On Wednesday, Magistrate Jennifer Price dismissed an application to have the charges dismissed under the Mental Health Act before Kent, through his lawyer George Elias, pleaded guilty.
Ms Price did not record a conviction against Kent and sentenced him to a two-year good behaviour bond.
She took into account he suffered significant injuries, including six fractured ribs and a collapsed lung, noting that it was a case of him being his “own worst enemy” after he came off second best.
“It seems Mr Kent has come off significantly worse than the co-accused, having suffered quite severe injuries,” Ms Price said.
The court heard Kent had been drinking for 11 hours at a Rozelle pub and was walking home with friends when the incident occurred.
Widely-shared video showed Kent, 54, landing on his head against a tree after the brawl spilt from the sidewalk onto the street.
The court heard that it was alleged that the other man, Tamer Uzun, asked Kent as he walked past if he was going to the match the following day.
Magistrate Price, reading from a police fact sheet, told the court that after Kent said “no”, it was alleged that Mr Uzun told Kent: “That’s right you like to bash women.”
Journalist Paul Kent made a brief statement to the media after pleading guilty to…
Late last year Mr Kent was found not guilty of allegations he choked and assaulted his then-partner, a result he called a “vindication”.
According to a police fact sheet tendered to the court, Mr Uzun said: “C’mon you weak dog.”
Kent replied: “I’m staying here brother, I’m f***ing standing here f***ing come here now … you dog head.”
The court heard that Kent had reported increasing his alcohol intake since being charged with the domestic violence offences in 2023.
Mr Elias told the court on Wednesday that people still approached him on the streets and made “outrageous” comments about the domestic violence charges despite them being dismissed by a court.
Tamer Uzun was also charged with affray over his alleged involvement in the incident. Picture: NewsWire / John Appleyard.
The magistrate took into account that several people had tried to hold him back, as well as a security guard who tried to stand between him and Mr Uzun.
“People have tried to stop you and a security guard tried to get involved,” Ms Price said.
The court heard that several friends had agreed to write character references in support of Kent, including his former NRL360 co-host Ben Ikin, boxing trainer Johnny Lewis and Fox Sports presenter Yvonne Sampson.
Ms Price took into account that Kent was suffering from major depression disorder and alcohol use disorder at the time.
The 54-year-old was stood down by Fox Sports and the Daily Telegraph after the incident and the court heard that he had since lost his jobs.
Asked by journalists, as he exited court, if he was feeling relieved, Kent said: “I am. It’s all over.”
Mr Uzun, 35, was also charged with affray for his alleged role in the brawl.
He has pleaded not guilty and is due to appear in court again later this month.
