Ex-Wallaby Lopeti Timani given French court date for nightclub bottle incident

Ex-Australian international Lopeti Timani will appear before the La Rochelle criminal court on June 8 to answer acts of violence dating back to May 2019. 

French newspaper Sud Ouest have reported that the back row, who joined the French Top 14 club in 2018, is due in court to answer a charge relating to throwing a bottle that left a nightclub security guard unable to work for eight days. 

“Lopeti Timani is being prosecuted for violence with a weapon for throwing a bottle into the faces of bouncers, who are themselves being prosecuted for organised violence,” deputy public prosecutor Clement Incerti told AFP, confirming Sud Ouest's story.

According to the French daily, the player's projectile allegedly injured one of the two security guards in the face. The security guards then allegedly retaliated together.

Timani, who has played 16 games this season with La Rochelle, was capped on twelve occasions by Australia, his last appearance coming in a November 2017 tour match in Scotland.

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In December, the ex-Wallaby revealed he had been struggling with his mental health since being the victim of an attack by ex-Melbourne Rebels teammate Amanaki Mafi in New Zealand.

Timani released a statement following the sentencing of Japanese international Mafi at a Dunedin District Court. The 29-year-old was discharged without conviction but ordered to pay $50,000 reparation to Timani after pleading guilty to assault with intent to injure.

“I have been battling issues of PTSD, depression and anxiety following the incident which has taken its toll on me personally and professionally,” he explained at the time.

“Going through this drawn-out process has also caused irreparable damage to my professional reputation through incorrect reporting by the media and defamatory statements but I felt it was important to stand up to this type of behaviour and this person.”

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