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NSW Judge Swaps Jail for Community Order in Off‑Duty Officer Stomp Case

The ruling prioritizes rehabilitation for a young offender over further prison time.

Overview

  • Koby Weaver’s original two‑year prison term was overturned Monday, with District Court Chief Judge Sarah Huggett imposing a 22‑month intensive corrections order to be served in the community.
  • The order requires Weaver to abstain from alcohol and drugs, follow treatment set by community corrections, and report to authorities, with any breach risking a return to jail.
  • Video shown in court captured Weaver stomping on an off‑duty officer’s face during a Newtown brawl in January 2025, and the officer suffered a brain bleed and multiple facial fractures.
  • Prosecutors called the act brutal and argued only prison was appropriate, but the judge said community supervision better protects the public by keeping a young offender employed and in treatment.
  • Two co‑offenders earlier received community‑based sentences and fines, placing the appeal outcome within a broader debate about proportionality and rehabilitation in violent street cases.