Former Maori All Black Te Rua Tipoki has admitted to repeatedly punching an unconscious man at a party in Tologa Bay in 2015.
The 42-year-old has pleaded guilty to a charge of assault with intent to injure, midway through a jury trial at Gisborne District Court.
Tipoki’s father, 66-year-old Reihana Tipoki, was jointly charged as a party to the offence, but has now been cleared of any involvement.
Both men had been granted name suppression until the verdict.
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