Cricket star David Warner tried to switch seats before random breath test
Australian cricket star David Warner has lamented global media attention about his drink-driving offence, suggesting it cost him valuable overseas commercial opportunities.
The 39-year-old was convicted and fined $1500 on Tuesday for mid-range drink-driving after he tried to switch seats with a passenger when approaching a random breath-testing site in Sydney’s east on Easter Sunday.
The star batter’s barrister argued he should be spared conviction for the offence – when he blew more than twice the legal limit – because he had suffered extra punishment as a result of media coverage.
Awais Ahmad told Waverley Local Court his client’s indiscretion had been covered in global outlets including ESPN, Al Jazeera and the Indian Express.
Countries including India and Bangladesh, where Warner might be seeking to play in T20 franchise leagues, have an acceptance of a “non-drinking culture”, Ahmad said.
Warner was arrested while he was on an Easter trip home from the subcontinent, where he captained the Karachi Kings in the Pakistan Super League.
When Warner saw the breath-testing site, he stopped short and attempted to swap seats with a female passenger, the agreed facts read out in court state.
Once police identified him as the driver, he co-operated with the testing, Judge Clare Farnan noted.
Ahmad questioned the decision of NSW Police to issue a press release about Warner’s arrest given the unremarkable nature of the offence.
“The media onslaught thereafter has been quite profound,” the lawyer said.
Farnan said there was evidence of cruel social media commentary directed at Warner and his wife Candice Warner.
His position as captain of the Sydney Thunder in the domestic Big Bash League was also under threat, the cricketer’s lawyer said.
The Thunder, along with rival Sydney Sixers and Sheffield Shield team the NSW Blues, are part of a state government campaign to deter drink-driving.
Despite the star batter’s pleas, Farnan said the need to deter the public from drink-driving was paramount in her decision to convict him.
5News aggregated this summary from the outlet’s public feed. The full article, with all the context, is on www.brisbanetimes.com.au — the content belongs to Brisbane Times.
