VIC:Boxer on assault charge bailed

AAP General News (Australia)
08-27-2010
VIC:Boxer on assault charge bailed

MELBOURNE, Aug 27 AAP - An Olympic boxer accused of punching a woman in the head at
a party has been granted bail.

Stephen Sutherland, 20, of Langwarrin, who represented Australia at the 2008 Beijing
Olympics, is charged with punching a woman who allegedly asked him to leave her daughter's
16th birthday party in suburban Melbourne on June 25.

He allegedly kicked and broke a window at the South Frankston house, then hit the woman
in the head.

Sutherland has been in custody since July 2 and made an unsuccessful bail application
in a magistrate's court.

On Friday, he applied for bail in the Victorian Supreme Court, with his father Greg
Sutherland telling the court his son would live at home and practise his boxing at a suburban
gym.

Justice Elizabeth Curtain granted bail, saying it was not appropriate that he continue
to be detained in an adult custodial facility.

Sutherland was bailed on strict conditions including that he live with his father,
abstain from alcohol and report to police twice weekly.

He was bailed to appear in Frankston Magistrates Court on October 29.

AAP df/pmu/was/it/cdh

KEYWORD: SUTHERLAND

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