Bashing victim says AFL star's penalty is too light
The victim of a nightclub assault by AFL star Bradley Hill has slammed the penalty handed to the Hawthorn star.
Hill escaped with a $1000 fine and an order to write two letters of apology for punching and head-butting 21-year-old Scott McQuillan in a vicious fight over a girl.
On Sunday, Hill was celebrating his team’s win against the Gold Coast Suns.
Less than 24 hours later, the midfielder was charged with assault at Dandenong Magistrates Court.
Hill attacked Mr McQuillan, a plumbing apprentice, after he struck up a conversation with Hill’s girlfriend at Empire nightclub in Narre Warren in January.
“He was staring at me, then chucked his drink in my face then he headbutt me and punched me in the face a couple of times and then he got taken off by security,” Mr McQuillan told 7 News.
The victim, who is a Hawks supporter, said it didn't finish there.
He claims a female friend of Hill's then struck him in the mouth with a glass bottle, chipping his tooth.
“She was standing to the side of me and then I was looking where he was and then she came from the side and smashed me,” he said.
The assault charge was dismissed in court because of Hill's clean criminal history and young age.
Instead, he was placed on a diversion order where he will have to pay $1000 to the court fund and stay out of trouble with the law for 12 months.
He was also ordered to write two letters - one letter of apology to the victim and a letter of gratitude to the police for allowing the diversion.
"I thought something more than that,” Mr McQuillan said.
“It's not much really, a diversion order, $1000 dollar fine for him isn't really a punishment,” he added.
The magistrate accepted that Hill was remorseful for his role in the assault, telling the court he felt confident the 22-year-old would not reoffend.
Hill was also penalised by the Hawks.
He will be donating an extra $1000 to the not-for-profit organization, Step Back Think, which is aimed at ending social violence.
News break – June 27
