Killer of Professional Surfer Sentenced Following One-Punch Attack

A man who fancied himself the “unofficial sheriff” of a New South Wales coastal town has been sentenced to five years in prison for the death of a champion surfer. The individual in question, Grant Coleman, attacked and ultimately killed former professional surfer Chris “Davo” Davidson in a one-punch attack. Coleman, the younger brother of NSW Waratahs coach Darren Coleman, had inappropriately taken the law into his own hands, acting in his view as Davidson’s “executioner.”

The court heard that the fatal assault occurred outside South West Rocks Country Club on September 24, 2022. Coleman had called Davidson a “paedophile” after witnessing him speaking to a 19-year-old woman. The victim, Davidson, had been convicted in 2017 for indecent assaults on a minor. Coleman’s intense animosity for Davidson had driven him to act as he did and he evidently believed that his actions were vindicated.

Judge McGrath observed that Coleman saw himself as the “unofficial sheriff” of South West Rocks, presuming to decide who was, and who wasn’t, acceptable for the town. He further stated, despite the underlying sentiment being understood by many in the local community, Coleman’s action of effectively being an arbitrator and executioner was not justified by any means.

That evening at the country club, both Coleman and Davidson were present. Davidson had approached a 19-year-old woman and started to flirt with her. Upon observing this, Coleman, acutely aware of the potential danger Davidson posed to young women, intervened by shouting accusations at him. This led to a confrontation, with Coleman later waiting outside the club for Davidson, where he punched him once in the jaw, causing Davidson to fall and lose consciousness.

Coleman, who suffers from an acquired brain injury due to his rugby league-playing years, defended his actions by stating that he was intending to protect the community. He argued that his knowledge of Davidson’s past and the perceived immediate threat led to his impulse to react. The court acknowledged that Coleman’s brain injury led to significant impairment in his impulse control but maintained he had no right to act as he did. Davidson, whose left arm and shoulder were unusable due to a car accident, received immediate medical attention but died soon after in Kempsey Hospital.