Hockey tough guy found not guilty
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Updated: July 03, 2009 9:28 AM
Robin Gomez was found not guilty of assault causing bodily harm for his punch to fellow ECHL player Chris Ferraro.
In a lengthy decision, provincial court Judge Mike Hubbard found that the punch was "within the scope of the game of hockey."
The courtroom erupted in applause when the verdict was read in a Victoria law court Thursday afternoon. Gomez hugged his attorney Jordan Watt – who took the case on pro bono with his father and fellow lawyer Alexander Watt.
"If this judgement had went the other way I would have had to retire because I'd been in and out of court for the rest of my life," said Gomez outside the courtroom after the verdict was read.
He testified he throws punches similar to the one he delivered to Ferraro in almost every game.
Gomez punched Ferraro – a Las Vegas Wranglers player – during a regular season game on March 1, 2008 at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre in Victoria. Gomez was suspended for the remainder of the 2007-08 season and playoffs while Ferraro returned to play a few months after the incident.
This past season Gomez played for the Oklahoma City Blazers of the Central Hockey League and Ferraro played for the Wranglers.
Hubbard accepted Gomez's version of the events over that of Ferraro's stating that he believed Gomez when he said the two made eye contact moments before the punch was thrown. Ferraro alleged he was "sucker-punched" by Gomez and was an unsuspecting victim.
A civil case has been filed by Ferraro and Jordan said his father Alexander will be handling the case if and when it goes to court.
editor@vicnews.com
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