2021-03-09
MMA fighter asks court not to convict him for 'horrific' attack on taxi driver
Stage: Sentence
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: At his sentence hearing today, Tuke addressed the court directly, telling Judge Pauline Codd there was no excuse for his behaviour that night. "My grandad was a taxi man and I'm so ashamed I did that" he said, adding "…Violence is never the answer." In a victim impact statement handed up to court, the victim said he now feels defenceless while driving his taxi and he no longer enjoys his work. Mr McCarthy urged Judge Codd to consider imposing a sentence on Tuke that will avoid giving him a criminal conviction.; Judge Codd adjourned the sentence to October 11 to allow Tuke to raise more compensation. "I'm not making any guarantees," she said.