Embattled St George Illawarra Dragons players Siliva Havili and Timoteo Lafai have hired leading Sydney barrister Peter Boulten, SC, to defend them against charges stemming from a brawl in the Wollongong CBD in July.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Havili and Lafai are accused of getting into a violent melee with three men outside the 7-11 on Crown Street around 5am on July 25.
The pair was arrested at the scene and charged with affray and behaving in an offensive manner.
Their solicitor, Bryan Wrench, entered pleas of not guilty on behalf of both men during the first mention of the matter in court in September, saying they would argue they were acting in self-defence at the time.
Neither Havili or Lafai chose to front court on that occasion, nor did they turn up when the matter was mentioned again on Tuesday.
Instead, Mr Wrench told the court Mr Boulten would be representing the men in the two-day hearing, saying a lot was riding on the outcome of the court proceedings.
“If they are found guilty, there’s a strong likelihood of loss of employment, that’s why Counsel has been briefed,” Mr Wrench said.
Mr Boulten is a former president of the NSW Bar Association and has been a barrister for 28 years – 13 as a Senior Counsel.
His clients have included the likes of one-punch killer Keiran Loveridge, the family of Katrina Dawson during the Lindt Cafe siege inquest and Hey Dad! actor Robert Hughes.
Most recently, Mr Boulten represented Harriet Wran, the daughter of former NSW Premier Neville Wran, who pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact in the murder of ice dealer Daniel McNulty.
The case against Havili and Lafai will be heard on April 27 and 28.
