A man who believed he was the “unofficial sheriff” of a NSW coastal town has been jailed for five years for killing a champion surfer in a one-punch attack.
Newcastle District Court judge Peter McGrath today said Grant Coleman, younger brother of NSW Waratahs coach Darren Coleman, had taken the law into his own hands to become former professional surfer Chris “Davo” Davidson’s “executioner”.
McGrath jailed Coleman, 43, who pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing death and one count of assault, for five years with a minimum of three years.
The roofer, who has an acquired brain injury from playing rugby league, attacked Davidson, 45, outside the South West Rocks Country Club about 11pm on September 24, 2022.
He had earlier seen Davidson, who had been convicted in 2017 of indecently assaulting a 15-year-old girl at her home, speaking with a 19-year-old woman and called him a “paedophile”.
McGrath said Coleman had had an intense dislike of Davidson and developed a fixation with him.
“Mr Coleman felt justified in his attitude towards Mr Davidson,” the judge said.
“He felt justified in taking the law into his own hands.
“He felt justified in punching Mr Davidson to the head.
“In Mr Coleman’s world view, he was something like the unofficial sheriff of South West Rocks and he determined who was and who was not acceptable for the town.
“I must say I do not doubt many in the local community would have agreed with him.
“Mr Davidson was more than a pest.
“He was, to Mr Coleman’s knowledge and belief, a serious and repeat abuser of young females. He had physically and emotionally abused a friend of Mr Coleman’s and damaged her property and traumatised her two young children but Mr Coleman took the law into his own hands.
“He was judge and jury of Mr Davidson. Tragically, Mr Coleman also became Mr Davidson’s executioner.”
The judge said both men, who had been living on past glories, were drinking separately at the country club when Coleman saw Davidson approach a 19-year-old girl.
He said Coleman had become aware of more broad concerns held by members of the South West Rocks community about the potential danger Davidson posed to young women.
Davidson told the girl at the club how he was a former professional surfer, kissed her on both cheeks, offered to take her to France and described her as the most beautiful girl he had ever seen.
Coleman asked his friends nearby if the girl knew Davidson was a predator.
He started shouting, “You’re a paedophile”, at Davidson before a scuffle broke out.
Coleman confronted Davidson again about 10 minutes later and grabbed him around the throat in a tight grip.
Coleman was escorted from the club and waited outside until Davidson came out about 11pm.
The pair exchanged words before Coleman punched Davidson once in the jaw.
Davidson, who had lost the use of his left arm and shoulder from a previous car accident, fell to the ground and hit his head, knocking him unconscious.
He was treated at the scene by paramedics but died a short time later at Kempsey Hospital.
In his defence, Coleman claimed he had heard rumours about Davidson’s past behaviour with young girls and was trying to protect the community when he confronted him, but never intended to kill him.
A psychological report indicated Coleman’s undiagnosed brain injury caused by his years of playing rugby league had caused a significant impairment to his impulse control.
