Hebron Matakiviti sentenced for kicking man unconscious outside pub

Hebron Matakiviti attacked Michael Gray outside The Southsider pub in the Newington area of Edinburgh after he had become involved in an altercation with several pub-goers.

Matakiviti, 42, challenged the men to a fight and, after the large group spilled out onto the street, violence broke out.

Edinburgh Sheriff Court was told that Mr Gray was attempting to act as a peacemaker by breaking the fighting up but ended up on the ground during the incident on March 25, 2022.

The court heard that, while Mr Gray was on the ground, Matakiviti approached the man and landed “a single kick to the head, rendering him unconscious”.

He then left the area but was found by police officers a short time later.

Matakiviti, of Kitchener Crescent, Longniddry, pleaded guilty to the assault when he appeared at the Capital court last month and returned for sentencing on Friday.

Sheriff Wendy Sheehan ordered Matakiviti to pay Mr Gray £750 in compensation.

READ MORE: Hebron Matakiviti kicked man unconscious outside The Southsider pub

Previously, the court was told that police had attended after several telephone calls from concerned residents who had witnessed the fighting on the city’s Richmond Street and Nicholson Street.

Mr Gray was said to have suffered “a large cut to the head” which required 10 staples to be inserted after he had been taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh for treatment.

The victim is said to have been left with a visible scar due to the assault.

Matakiviti pleaded guilty to assaulting Michael Gray by kicking him to the head while he was on the ground and rendering him unconscious, all to his severe injury and permanent disfigurement, at Richmond Street and Nicholson Street, Edinburgh, on March 25, 2022.

He also admitted to an amended charge of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner and challenging others to fight with him, repeatedly shouting and uttering derogatory remarks during the same incident.