Michael Licha – Michmutters
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Michael Lichaa: NRL faces fresh calls to scrap no-fault stand-down rule

Rugby league’s no-fault stand-down rule has come under fire once again, with a lawyer for Michael Lichaa calling for it to be scrapped after it was revealed the ex-Bulldog was blocked from playing park football last year.

Mr Lichaa, 29, was forced to withdraw from the game he loves amid an 18-month legal battle to clear his name that culminated when a magistrate last week acquired him of domestic violence offences.

The former Lebanon international’s world was turned upside down in February last year when he was charged with a string of offenses after a late-night incident at his Connells Point home.

But it can now be revealed that Mr Lichaa was blocked from playing park footy after being charged when the NSWRL refused to register his contract.

The NRL in 2019 introduced its no-fault stand-down rule under which any player facing serious criminal charges, which carry a jail term of 11 years or more, is automatically sidelined.

The NSWRL adopted similar guidelines.

“The NSWRL did not register a contract for Michael Lichaa last season for bringing the game into disrepute after he was charged with several serious offences, including common assault and intimidation,” a NSWRL spokesman said.

“The NSWRL reviewed the situation this season and registered a contract for Lichaa.”

Mr Lichaa’s 113-game NRL career came to an end in 2019 when Canterbury did not offer him a contract for the following year.

He did not pick up a contract with a rival club and signed on to play for Cronulla Caringbah in the Sydney Shield in an effort to keep fit and in the hope of attracting a suitor.

However, his career was put on hold while he fought the charges after the NSWRL refused to register a contract.

Mr Lichaa was eventually found not guilty on Friday. His former partner of him declined to testify against him.

Mr Lichaa was acquitted of charges of common assault and intimidation, though he pleaded guilty to one charge of destruction of property after he punched a glass door.

The Sutherland Local Court was told last week that he had since retired from rugby league and was now working as a project manager.

Sam Saadat represented the former Cronulla and Canterbury hooker throughout the horror 18-month ordeal.

He said he understood the intent behind the no-fault rule but argued it hadn’t had the effect it was supposed to.

In the summer of 2018-19, the NRL was hit by a string of scandals – 17 incidents and allegations between September and mid-February – that prompted then ARLC chairman Peter Beattie to draft the rule.

But Mr Saadat, who is also heavily involved in rugby league and has coached at the Bulldogs and Sydney Roosters in the women’s and developmental ranks, said the rules needed a rethink.

“I understand where the NSWRL and NRL are coming from, but I think it needs to be revisited. If you look at the examples… almost every single one was acquitted,” he said.

“And as a result, if you look at the impact it’s had on their careers and mental health, I think the prejudice far outweighs the policy’s purpose.

“The game has a right to administer itself how it wants and the Federal Court found that when (Jack) de Belin challenged it. But I think they need to revisit that decision. We now have examples of where it hasn’t worked.”

Tristan Sailor, Dylan Walker and Tui Kamikamica were all stood down after being charged by police before either being found not guilty or having the charges dismissed.

De Belin did not play for the entirety of the 2019 and 2020 NRL seasons before he was allowed to return midway through last year when the Director of Public Prosecutions elected not to pursue a third sexual assault trial.

Two juries could not arrive at a verdict, though he and co-accused Callan Sinclair were found not guilty of one count following their second trial.

Manase Fainu is facing trial in the Parramatta District Court where he has pleaded not guilty to wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and denied stabbing a church youth leader in the back.

Penrith’s Tyrone May was the only player stood down under the policy to be convicted.

May narrowly escaped jail after he pleaded guilty to four counts of intentionally recording an intimate image without consent.

Mr Saadat called for the NRL to hold a conference between players, administrators and lawyers to look at the policy.

“The game is supposed to be a reflection of society,” he said.

“Legally, everyone is entitled to the presumption of innocence.

“In this case even if it’s worded as a no-fault policy, it’s somewhat prejudicial. In people’s minds it creates an impression they must be guilty. I think it’s fundamentally unfair.”

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Michael Lichaa acquitted of domestic violence charges

Former NRL star Michael Lichaa has been acquitted of domestic violence charges after his former partner refused to turn up to court and ex-teammate Adam Elliott vouched for his version of events.

The 18-month saga finally drew to a close on Friday when Mr Lichaa was found not guilty of assaulting his former partner Kara Childerhouse during a heated late-night incident at his south Sydney home.

Mr Lichaa, 29, has persistently denied assaulting his former finance and Magistrate Melissa Humphreys on Friday acquitted him of common assault and intimidation charges.

Michael Lichaa (centre). Picture: NewsWire/Seb Haggett.Source: NCA NewsWire
Michael Lichaa and Kara Childerhouse. Picture: Supplied.Source: Supplied

His trial before Magistrate Melissa Humphreys took a sensational twist on Thursday when Ms Childerhouse refused to turn up to Sutherland Local Court to give evidence.

Despite being subpoenaed and midway through her testimony police were unable to contact her after knocking on her door and calling her.

The court heard that she no longer wanted to take part in the proceedings and was pregnant and worried about the stress of reliving the incident.

All of her testimony which she had given up until that point was excluded though a statement, in which she retracted the allegations, was admitted into evidence.

It left the prosecution with no evidence to tend on the assault charge.

Kara Childerhouse failed to turn up to Sutherland Local Court. Picture: John GraingerSource: News Corp Australia

Police had alleged he was involved in an argument, which prompted concerned neighbors to call police to his Connells Point home.

The court has heard that the incident occurred after Mr Lichaa caught Ms Childerhouse performing a sexual act on his mate and former teammate Adam Elliott.

Mr Elliott told the court on Thursday that he had been drinking for 12 hours following a party at Mr Lichaa’s home.

When it was suggested that Mr Lichaa had assaulted Ms Childerhouse, he said “I disagree.”

Mr Elliott told the court that Mr Lichaa exclaimed “what the f*** are you doing?” and he went outside and walked back and forth in a heated state.

Adam Elliott told the court that Michael Lichaa did not assault his former partner. Picture: NRL Imagery.Source: Supplied
Michael Licha. Photo: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images.Source: Getty Images

A witness previously told the court that she heard a man saying loudly “I’m going to f***ing kill her”.

His lawyer James Trevallion denied that amounted to an offense of intimidation, adding there was no evidence the words were said in her presence.

“Clearly it was a situation where there was a lot of emotion and feeling and it would be remarkable when walking up and down the street if he wasn’t yelling and screaming and emotional and upset about what had occurred,” Mr Trevallion told the court on Friday.

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Sports

Kara Childerhouse: Michael Lichaa acquitted of domestic violence charges

Former NRL star Michael Lichaa has been acquitted of domestic violence charges after his former partner refused to turn up to court and ex-teammate Adam Elliott vouched for his version of events.

The 18-month saga finally drew to a close on Friday when Mr Lichaa was found not guilty of assaulting his former partner Kara Childerhouse during a heated late-night incident at his south Sydney home.

Mr Lichaa, 29, has persistently denied assaulting his former finance and Magistrate Melissa Humphreys on Friday acquitted him of common assault and intimidation charges.

His trial before Magistrate Melissa Humphreys took a sensational twist on Thursday when Ms Childerhouse refused to turn up to Sutherland Local Court to give evidence.

Despite being subpoenaed and midway through her testimony police were unable to contact her after knocking on her door and calling her.

The court heard that she no longer wanted to take part in the proceedings and was pregnant and worried about the stress of reliving the incident.

All of her testimony which she had given up until that point was excluded though a statement, in which she retracted the allegations, was admitted into evidence.

It left the prosecution with no evidence to tend on the assault charge.

Police had alleged he was involved in an argument, which prompted concerned neighbors to call police to his Connells Point home.

The court has heard that the incident occurred after Mr Lichaa caught Ms Childerhouse performing a sexual act on his mate and former teammate Adam Elliott.

Mr Elliott told the court on Thursday that he had been drinking for 12 hours following a party at Mr Lichaa’s home.

When it was suggested that Mr Lichaa had assaulted Ms Childerhouse, he said “I disagree.”

Mr Elliott told the court that Mr Lichaa exclaimed “what the f*** are you doing?” and he went outside and walked back and forth in a heated state.

A witness previously told the court that she heard a man saying loudly “I’m going to f***ing kill her”.

His lawyer James Trevallion denied that amounted to an offense of intimidation, adding there was no evidence the words were said in her presence.

“Clearly it was a situation where there was a lot of emotion and feeling and it would be remarkable when walking up and down the street if he wasn’t yelling and screaming and emotional and upset about what had occurred,” Mr Trevallion told the court on Friday.

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Michael Lichaa: Twist in DV case as ex-partner fails to show in court

The former fiancee of Michael Lichaa has refused to show up to court and give evidence – because she is pregnant – as the ex-NRL star fights domestic violence allegations.

The former Cronulla and Canterbury hooker has denied assaulting his former partner Kara Childerhouse during a heated late-night incident in February last year.

The conclusion of the matter was due to be heard at Sutherland Local Court on Thursday and Friday.

Police allege Mr Lichaa, 29, was involved in an argument that prompted concerned neighbors to call police to his Connells Point home in southern Sydney.

The court was told that the incident occurred after Mr Lichaa caught Ms Childerhouse cheating on him with his best mate and former teammate Adam Elliott.

The court was due to hear evidence from Mr Elliott on Thursday.

However, the police prosecution applied for an adjournment after tending to a doctor’s note saying that Ms Childerhouse was pregnant and she claimed she was unfit to give evidence until October 31.

Hours later the court was told that Ms Childerhouse’s mother had arrived at Sutherland Court House and told police that Ms Childerhouse did not want to relive the “trauma” and was worried about the stress of having to give evidence having already twice been in the witness box. .

Ms Childerhouse was in the middle of cross-examination when she failed to show up to court on Thursday.

The prosecution conceded that there was no guarantee that she would show up to court if the hearing – which has already dragged on for nearly nine months – was further pushed back.

“I’ve not heard any information which provides me with any confidence that Ms Childerhouse is likely to attend if granted an adjournment,” magistrate Melissa Humphreys said.

“It would appear Ms Childerhouse no longer wishes to participate in the proceedings.”

Police had attempted to contact her by phone and email and knocked on her door on Thursday; however, she did not respond, the court was told.

Ms Childerhouse has previously given part of her evidence in closed court. Defense barrister James Trevallion applied for all of her testimony from her to be struck out because he had not been able to cross-examine her on key issues.

Ms Childerhouse had claimed that during the incident that Mr Lichaa pushed her, causing her to hit her head against a wall, the court was previously told.

Mr Lichaa has pleaded not guilty to common assault and stalking/intimidate causing fear of physical harm.

He pleaded guilty to the less serious charge of destroying property.

Earlier, Ms Humphreys ruled that a statement given by Ms Childerhouse, in which she retracted the allegations, would be admitted into evidence.

The hearing has now stretched on since late last year – day one of the trial was held in early November last year before it returned to court in March.

The proceedings have so far been concerned with legal arguments about the admissibility of Ms Childerhouse’s statutory declaration in which she said she did not want an AVO taken out on her behalf.

The police prosecution has asked Ms Humphreys to rule it inadmissible after Ms Childerhouse claimed that she was pressured into making it by Mr Lichaa, his parents and solicitor.

However, Ms Humphreys said she could make no finding of impropriety and said it would be included.

The hearing continues on Thursday.

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