The man accused of punching Australian rugby sevens captain James Stannard has appeared in court – without the Bachelor winner who had been acting as his defence lawyer.
Stannard was left with a fractured skull after the alleged one-punch outside a kebab shop in Coogee, in Sydney’s east on March 30.
British backpacker Sam Oliver has been charged over the alleged ‘coward punch’, and he appeared briefly at Waverley Local Court on Wednesday.
The 22-year-old appeared in court without Anna Heinrich, the lawyer who won the heart of Tim Robards in the Bachelor’s 2013 season.
Sam Oliver (pictured), who is accused of punching Australian rugby sevens captain James Stannard, appeared in court without the Bachelor winner who acted as his defence lawyer
Oliver appeared in court Wednesday without Anna Heinrich’s (pictured previously) presence
Stannard (pictured) was left with a fractured skull after the alleged one-punch outside a kebab shop in Coogee, in Sydney’s east on March 30.
The 22-year-old British backpacker (pictured), 22, was charged over alleged ‘coward punch’
Mr Oliver has been charged with recklessly causing grievous bodily harm and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
The alleged attack robbed Stannard, 35, of a chance to represent his country at the Commonwealth Games in what is his final season with the team before retiring.
Mr Oliver, who is on strict bail conditions including surrendering his passport, has previously plead not guilty to the charges during an earlier appearance in court.
His lawyer Charles Abbott told the court it had been agreed the matter would be next listed for mention at Downing Centre Court on June 12, the Daily Telegraph reported.
A hearing is expected to run between one and two days.
After the alleged attack, Stannard said he wasn’t ‘angry’, but ‘heartbroken’.
‘I’m a bit sluggish … I’ve got a fractured skull with a little bit of bleeding. I don’t really know the full extent to be honest, I’m not a doctor, but that just sounds bad to me.
‘I still haven’t got through all the messages I’ve got from mates, my family, even other players from other teams and coaches from all over the world have messaged me,’ he said.
Stannard is expected to make a full recovery.
Oliver appeared briefly at Waverley Local Court on Wednesday without Ms Heinrich (pictured) and the matter is next expected to be heard later this month
The alleged attack robbed Stannard, 35, (pictured) of a chance to represent his country at the Commonwealth Games in what is his final season with the team before retiring
Andy Friend (pictured) revealed Stannard was left with a fractured skull outside a kebab shop in Coogee, in Sydney’s east
He said he was thankful his teammates were there to help him.
‘I don’t know if I’d be here without those blokes … Words can’t describe how much I appreciate them being there,’ he said.
Team coach Andy Friend said he was standing near Stannard and saw his head hit the pavement ‘very hard’.
‘My instinct was that it wasn’t good, that it was fatal,’ he said.
Friend’s next instinct was to detain Oliver for police with help from star players Lewis Holland and Ben O’Donnell.
Despite initial fears, Stannard has been told by surgeons he’s likely make a full recovery.
In an emotional press conference, Friend revealed the 35-year-old had been cleared by his neurosurgeon and an ear, nose and throat specialist.
Stannard was knocked to the floor in the alleged unprovoked attack at a kebab shop on Coogee Bay Road, in the eastern suburb of Coogee, at 3.10am on Friday
Friend said he was standing near Stannard (pictured with wife Kym) and saw his head hit the pavement ‘very hard’
Friend’s next instinct was to detain him for police with help from star players Lewis Holland and Ben O’Donnell. Pictured: Accused Sam Oliver
‘It was one of those surreal moments where the world stops,’ he said.
Friend said his family, Stannard and other rugby sevens players and staff had surprised him with an early farewell party, as the Commonwealth Games will be his last event as coach.
The coach said it was a special night and nobody wanted it to end – and the way it did end had come ‘out of the blue’.
‘All I know was there wasn’t an ounce of aggression all night, it was a beautiful night,’ he said.
‘I can assure you it was not a boozy affair that was going to turn sour.’
Oliver was granted strict conditional bail and the hearing is expected to last between one and two days
Stannard has been told by surgeons he’s likely to make a full recovery and is free to leave Sydney’s St Vincent’s Hospital
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