4 British soldiers plead guilty in NYC fight
Nov 1, 2013, 11:25 PM
NEW YORK (AP) – Four British soldiers have pleaded guilty to low-level offenses in a fight that injured an off-duty policeman outside a New York City bar.
Court records show Ratu-losefo Yavala pleaded guilty Thursday to misdemeanor assault and petit larceny. Thomas Shute pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault.
Mosese Kurulala and Iliakini Raderua pleaded guilty to violations, not crimes.
The four were sentenced to community service and fines.
Defense lawyer Seema Iyer (EYE’-uhr) calls Yavala “a total gentleman.” The other soldiers’ attorneys couldn’t be reached for comment Friday.
Court records concerning two other soldiers arrested in the Aug. 30 confrontation aren’t available. All were on a military rugby team trip.
Criminal complaints say the victim was punched and his cellphone taken.
The British Defense Ministry has declined to comment on the soldiers’ status.
(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
