Crystal Sarafina Aloalo Papali’i, 24, was found not guilty of an assault charge on Thursday. Photos: Albert McKnight.
The sister of a Canberra Raiders legend has been acquitted of allegations she repeatedly punched a rival player in the face during a fight at a women’s rugby league game, leaving her with a broken nose.
In footage shown to the ACT Magistrates Court on Friday (23 January), Crystal Sarafina Aloalo Papali’i could be seen running onto the field towards a group of players involved in a scuffle.
A player from the opposing team, who is the complainant in the matter, could be seen grabbing her before they fell to the ground. Other players then quickly gathered around the pair and pulled them apart.
The footage was shown to the court when a hearing started against Ms Papali’i, who was contesting a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
She is the sister of Raiders prop Josh Papali’i, whose wife, Mesepa Salesa, has already been sentenced over her separate role in the fight that took place at the Kippax Raiders playing field in Holt on 14 July, 2024.
The court was shown footage of the complainant telling police there had been an “on-field beef” during the game that resulted in Ms Papali’i and one of her own teammates being “sin-binned” and sent to watch from the sidelines.
She said the players were later chatting when she heard a commotion and saw some people in a scuffle.
The complainant claimed she and others ran over to the scuffle while Ms Papali’i returned to the field and tried to punch one of the complainant’s teammates. She said she tried to protect her teammate by grabbing Ms Papali’i and dragging her to the ground.
It is alleged that while they were on the ground, Ms Papali’i punched the complainant in the face at least twice before they were pulled apart.
While the footage of the incident showed the pair falling down, it was not immediately clear whether the alleged punches took place, because of how the other players crowded around the pair and blocked the view.
Crystal Sarafina Aloalo Papali’i (right) leaves court with her lawyer, Tiffany Wilken, after she was acquitted.
Prosecutor Harry Wagner alleged Ms Papali’i broke the complainant’s nose when punching her, for which she required surgery.
But defence lawyer Tiffany Wilken of Tiffany J Criminal Law said her client denied punching the complainant at any time.
A woman on the same team as Ms Papali’i, who had also run towards the scuffle, told the court she hadn’t seen Ms Papali’i try to punch another player before she was pulled to the ground, nor had she seen her punch the complainant multiple times.
But Mr Wagner said this player also gave some evidence that was in “stark contrast” to what could be seen in the footage.
Ms Wilken argued that Special Magistrate Sean Richter could not be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the alleged punches occurred, as the complainant could have had her nose broken when she fell down with Ms Papali’i or when they were both entangled on the ground.
The special magistrate said the complainant clearly had a broken nose and he found her to be an honest and forthright witness.
He also said the footage showed Ms Papali’i running onto the field and trying to punch a player before one of her own teammates got in the way.
But he said he had watched the footage numerous times and he could not be satisfied that the complainant’s broken nose was caused by anything Ms Papali’i had done.
It could have occurred when the complainant pulled her to the ground and Ms Papali’i accidentally elbowed her in the face, or when she partly fell on top of the complainant, he said.
Special Magistrate Richter ultimately found Ms Papali’i not guilty of her assault charge.
Ms Wilken had started the proceedings by applying to stay her 24-year-old client’s charge, which means legally preventing the prosecution from proceeding.
“This investigation has been somewhat of a mess from the get-go,” she said.
But Special Magistrate Richter dismissed her stay application, allowing the hearing to proceed.
Ian McShane. 20% !!! In your dreams baby. Only 5% I reckon. It might get to 10% if the Govt are… View