Trigger Warning: This post deals with issues of domestic violence and may be triggering for survivors of abuse.
Former AFL player Nick Stevens has been found guilty of 12 charges including threatening to kill and assaulting his ex-partner while they were dating in 2012 and 2013.
A Ringwood Magistrate found Stevens guilty of five counts of assault, three counts of threatening to kill, one count of threatening to inflict serious injury and two counts of intentionally causing injury.
The 34-year-old told his former girlfriend he was going to kill her and her dad after smashing her face into a tiled kitchen wall.
He also caused grazing to her face on a separate occasion by pushing her head into the outside wall of a house, and pushed and kicked her when she threw wine at him during a fight.
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Stevens was also found guilty of one count of property damage after smashing the woman’s phone, but allegations he broke a window were dismissed.
Magistrate Nunzio La Rosa said he had to dismiss charges arising from some of the alleged incidents because of insufficient evidence, but he otherwise found testimony by the woman to be consistent and convincing.
“I was impressed with the complainant and the manner in which she gave her evidence,” he said.
“I accept the complainant as truthful.”
Stevens, who was appointed coach of Glenelg in the South Australian National Football League in 2013, had pleaded not guilty to a total of 31 charges.
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The club’s board met to discuss the matter and sacked Stevens in the wake of the decision.
“As a proud family-based community club we wish to make it very clear that we do not condone or tolerate domestic violence in any form,” the club said in a statement.
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During his trial, Stevens said the woman made up the allegations of abuse to ensure he would repay money he owned her.
He also said she had faked her injuries.
Magistrate La Rosa said some allegations, including a charge that Stevens threw a chair at the woman, could not be proven but rejected the proposition her injuries were self-inflicted.
Stevens, who played 231 AFL games for Carlton and Port Adelaide, declined to comment outside of court.
He will return to court for a plea hearing in March and will be sentenced at a later date.
Glenelg has promoted assistant coach Matthew Lokan to the role of coach for the 2015 season.
If you have experienced, or are at risk of domestic violence or sexual assault, you can receive help by calling 1800 RESPECT – 1800 737 732. If you are in immediate danger please call the police on 000.
A version of this post originally appeared on the ABC website and has been republished with permission.
Top Comments
it's not the AFL...that's why it wasn't hidden. It's the SA state league
How stupid do these people think anyone is to believe the woman causes the injuries to herself. Granted some injuries can be self inflicted but how does one get a black eye from running into a door handle that is positioned at waste height? Or apparently they bang their head so hard against the floor or door they knock themselves out and then continue on afterwards grabbing their own arms to leave bruising, punching themselves in the lip, tearing their own clothes. It's amazing how many women beat themselves up according to women bashes.
I'm glad the club took the issue seriously though.