Cop-stomper dodges imprisonment over ‘brutal’ attack
An impulsive young man who forced his way into the head of an off-duty police officer and made an audible cracking noise will avoid prison.
Koby Weaver, 22, was involved in a drunken nighttime altercation with two off-duty police officers on a busy road in Newtown in Sydney’s inner west after 11pm one night in January 2025.
After his two friends, Danai Deneiderhavsein, 19, and Finley Goodwin, 23, separately punched and kicked police officers Jack Steen and Lachlan Gray, Weaver stomped on Mr Steen’s face, leaving him unconscious.
“The Crown will classify the offense as powerful, brutal and potentially catastrophic,” prosecutor Alexandra Bova said at an appeal hearing in the NSW District Court on Monday.
He argued that Weaver acted without duress, obligation or excuse.
He was given a two-year prison sentence with a 12-month non-parole period in April, but that sentence was overturned on Monday when Judge Sarah Huggett ordered 22 months of intensive corrections.
The judge said the service would be made available to the community so the Northern Beaches man could continue on his path to reform, including drug and alcohol rehabilitation and full-time employment.
In his letter to the court, the judge said Weaver took responsibility for his actions.
“I’m not here to make excuses or shift blame. I know there are consequences for my behavior and I accept that,” he wrote.
Judge Huggett said Weaver was influenced by his peers to act out and his immaturity meant he had poor impulse control and self-regulation.
Mr Steen and Mr Gray watched the judge’s remarks via video link.
In the footage of the incident watched on a mobile phone, a crack can be heard as the police officer’s head hits the road and he falls to the ground unconscious.
Weaver sat in court surrounded by family members, watching his actions repeated on the screen.
The 22-year-old man fled the scene with serious injuries, leaving Mr Steen unconscious on the road.
The officer was treated by an off-duty nurse and member of the public before being taken to hospital for a brain haemorrhage, multiple fractures and swelling to his face.
Mr. Gray suffered black eyes, lacerations and swelling in both eyes.
Earlier Monday, Weaver’s lawyer, Slade Howell, said his client initially stood back during the fight, only to try to stop the fight by stepping on Mr. Steen, who was holding Goodwin’s shirt.
The court heard the 22-year-old thought his friend was drowning when he intervened.
Judge Huggett said Weaver’s behavior was very serious.
“The appellant’s conduct, although violent, coercive and brutal, consisted of only one act,” he said.
Although the 22-year-old had no criminal history, he had started using drugs and alcohol again in January 2025 at the time of the attack.
Under the intensive corrections order, he must abstain from alcohol and drugs and comply with treatment programs administered by corrections officers.
Violating these conditions could mean putting him behind bars.
Weaver left court surrounded by family members and did not speak to waiting reporters.
In April Deneiderhavsein was fined $2,640 and sentenced to an 18-month community corrections order and 12 months in the community for four charges including recklessly causing grievous bodily harm in the company.
Goodwin received the same sentence and was fined $2,200 for two counts of assault causing actual bodily harm in the company.
