Moala found guilty of assault

 

George Moala was found guilty of assault with intent to injure Clifford Matoka. He was found not guilty on two other charges of assault.

 

The 12-person jury took about five hours to deliver its verdict at the Auckland district court but not before posing a question seeking clarification on the definition of intention. 

 

On hearing the verdict for George Moala, family members and supporters of the Moala brothers in the courtroom sat in shocked, tearful silence.

 

The Moala family made no comment outside court, and neither did George Moala's lawyer Paul Wicks.

 

Moala has been remanded on bail until his sentencing in May.

 

In court, Judge Rob Ronayne thanked the Moala family for accepting the verdict with dignity.

 

"That can't have been easy for you to hear."

 

Ronayne gave a final addresson Friday, saying that "in a nutshell" jurors were tasked with deciding what Moala's role in the brawl was, if any, and its nature and purpose.

 

During the trial this week the court heard largely differing accounts of how the boozy brawl, involving dozens of people in the packed club, unfolded.  

 

Clifford Matoka [George's brother, who was acquitted of all charges] and his friend Damian Leota were both injured in the brawl, with Matoka winding up in hospital with a nicked artery and facial lacerations after being attacked with a bottle. 

 

Crown prosecutor Josh Shaw alleged that the brothers and members of their party instigated and carried out a "merciless" attack on the two "defenceless" men following an argument in the smoker's lounge. 

 

However, the brothers' lawyers claimed self defence, with George Moala's girlfriend Vava Fosita testifying during the trial that she and Moala were attempting to leave when she was punched by one of the brawlers, prompting Moala to defend her.