KEY POINTS:
New Zealand's top free skier was fined $400 yesterday after admitting assaulting another man last month.
The conviction could lead to Samuel David Smoothy, 22, of Wanaka, being kicked off the national team, his lawyer told Queenstown District Court.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Paul Knox said Smoothy punched William John O'Sullivan on October 19 after he made an offer to trade a mobile phone for a woman.
The victim suffered lacerations to the face.
Defence lawyer Nicole Murphy said Smoothy's conviction would damage his chance to tour with the New Zealand team to Canada this summer, The Southland Times reported.
He was New Zealand's top freeskier and a conviction would make it difficult to travel to some countries, including Canada, as well as strip him of sponsorship, she said.
Judge Dominic Flatley said "sweeping the conviction under the carpet" would usurp other countries' immigration processes.
"This sort of behaviour will not be tolerated," he said. "It's not for the court to protect you in any way."
- NZPA
