Wallabies player Kurtley Beale found not guilty of assault

Wallabies player Kurtley Beale found not guilty of assault

From: AAP June 07, 2010 12:06PM

WALLABIES rugby star Kurtley Beale has been found not guilty of putting his female cousin in a headlock and punching her four times in the head at a party in western Sydney.

Beale, 21, was charged with assaulting his 17-year-old cousin at a family party in Tregear on July 18, 2009.

He pleaded not guilty to one count of common assault.

In Mt Druitt Local Court on Monday, Magistrate Glenn Bartley found Beale not guilty.

Mr Bartley said he relied on the "credible" evidence of Beale's stepfather Bob Smith, who said he never saw Beale approach his cousin.

The cousin had received no injuries and had drunk beer and half a bottle of bourbon that night, the court heard.

Outside court, Beale said he was relieved by the outcome.