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A Sydney magistrate has blasted South Sydney NRL player Zane Musgrove, saying he was "no different to a bus driver or anyone else" and should not receive special treatment, as he pleaded guilty to damaging property.
The 22-year-old rugby league player was convicted in the Downing Centre Local Court over an incident at a home in Zetland earlier this year in which he pulled a gate off its hinges following an argument with his girlfriend.
His solicitor Christopher Watson said his client "opened the gate in frustration" when his girlfriend told him to leave, after she had asked him to pick her up from a friend's place at 4:00am.
Magistrate Megan Greenwood accepted there was no physical violence towards his partner, but said it was "about power and control" and had "all the hallmarks of domestic violence".
"Your girlfriend didn't do what you wanted to do," she said.
When his defence lawyer, Mr Watson, told the court his client was a professional football player and a conviction could affect his career, Magistrate Greenwood said: "Why should a professional rugby league player get treated any different to a bus driver or anyone else in the community?"
Musgrove, who was fined $1,100 and ordered to pay $500 to fix the gate, also faced charges of domestic violence-related common assault and assault, but both charges were withdrawn by prosecutors before a hearing could begin.
In a statement, the Rabbitohs said it would review the judgement "very closely" to determine whether further sanctions are required.
"The Rabbitohs are keeping the NRL Integrity Unit informed throughout the ongoing process," it said.
An apprehended violence order lodged by police on behalf of his girlfriend Candice Melanie Heise was also withdrawn.
Magistrate Greenwood also said: "She [Heise] was entitled to yell at you to leave and you should have turned on your heels and left."
"There's the issue of specific deterrence to control your temper and there's a need for general deterrence for men in the community.
"It's a scandal how many women in this country are dying at the hands of their partners."
The court heard Musgrove had contacted the victim the day after the incident and had offered to pay for the damage caused.
"So far in your life you've made good choices," she told Musgrove.
"But the court can't impose two types of justice for sports people, and other types of justice for others."
Musgrove's lawyers have lodged an appeal which will be heard on November 7.
Topics: law-crime-and-justice, community-and-society, relationships, nrl, rugby-league, sport, domestic-violence, sydney-2000, nsw
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