24 hours ago we were talking about Losi Filipo -- the 18-year-old rugby player who was discharged without conviction after a late-night assault on four people.
The judge believed he should be given the opportunity to continue his playing career -- a prison sentence would change the course of his life, and possibly fast-track him into a life of violent crime. Allowing him to continue his playing career -- and remember he's 18 years old -- would give him structure, routine, some discipline, an income.
It's really a decision about whether you favour restorative justice and rehabilitation, or a straight out punishment.
It's a polarising issue. I can see both sides of the debate -- what he did was horrific. Stomping on a man's head. Punching two women. He tried and did inflict horrendous injuries on four people.
But now, the whole situation has been turned on its head.
Losi Filipo, at his request, has cancelled his playing contract. That's it. Game over.
So what does that mean for this 18-year-old?
He committed a violent crime. He's been discharged without conviction. And now he's got what? Nothing. He's been cut lose by the Wellington Union and he's on his own.
Think about that for a minute.
You're young, fit, you're strong as an ox. You've committed a horrific crime and that's led to this whole sorry mess you've found yourself in. It's your fault, it's on your shoulders?
What happens next? This would consume you, surely. You've lost your income stream. Underneath it all, you're angry. You've already got anger issues. And now add a bit of alcohol.
Suddenly, you've got yourself a ticking time-bomb.
I don't necessarily oppose what the judge has tried to do here. Sit in court, as I have as a journalist, and see the people coming through our courts. They have lengthy criminal histories which began when they were young with petty crime, or a violent assault.....And a prison sentence then sets them off on a life of crime. I do understand what the judge has tried to do.
But what I would question is, if you're going to offer someone like Filipo a chance at redemption, then you should only do so if you have a structure in place around him. The mentors, the guidance, the anger management courses, the pathway to rehabilitation. The whole lot.
Because look at the outcome we've got now? It's a mess.
Wellington Rugby Union, clearly motivated by the court of public opinion in the last 24 hours, has agreed to severe his contract -- and now, only now, is talking about offering support to the up and coming player who Filipo beat up.
Rugby is not painting itself in glory right now.
They got it wrong with the Chiefs and the stripper scandal, initially questioning the credibility of the sex worker, and not the conduct of the franchise's players....And the Wellington Union supported Filipo through this case, but when it caused public outrage, they agreed to cut him loose.
What a failure on every level. A young man has failed himself. Rugby has failed again. The justice system has failed everyone.
And now we have a rudderless 18-year-old with no direction and no support.
I hope, in some capacity, the Rugby Union, or the Players Association or our justice system will get alongside this young man, because if he's left to his own devices, I think he'll find himself in the news again.
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