CLINT Uden may have escaped conviction on two charges relating to an incident at Capital last year, but now the video no one wanted the public to see has surfaced.
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Footage of the Wagga City councillor’s expletive-riddled rant at security guards outside the Capital nightclub on September 3 was received by The Daily Advertiser yesterday.
It shows Cr Uden walk to the front of the line outside and attempt to walk into the club, but is stopped by security guards who ask him for identification.
They refused him entry due to intoxication.
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He then launches a tirade of verbal abuse at the guards for almost 90 seconds. People in the background can be heard explaining who Cr Uden is to other onlookers – “he’s a Wagga City councillor” – as well as what sounds very much like as “is that Matthew Newton? ... Matthew Newton, go home”.
The 30-year-old was placed on a 12-month good behaviour bond, with no conviction, under Section 10 (1) (b) of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act after pleading guilty in Wagga Local Court to two offences – using offensive language and offensive behaviour – in late November.
Cr Uden was later found guilty of breaching code of conduct provisions by an independent investigator, and made a public apology at the first council meeting of the year.
When contacted by the Advertiser yesterday afternoon, Cr Uden did not seem concerned about how the footage, when viewed by the public, would impact on the way the community sees him.
“I think the public has already had the details from other media outlets, including yourselves,” he said.
“It has been dealt with before a magistrate with no conviction on either count and I’ve (followed) recommendations made by the code of conduct investigation. I’ve apologised to everyone concerned in writing and publicly.
“I think the matter is over, I’m moving on with renewed vigour ... I can’t see any purpose that (releasing) it serves.”
However, Capital co-owner Michelle Qemal maintained Cr Uden is yet to apologise to the nightclub or the security guard he abused.
“Our security staff and our management staff still hasn’t received an apology. He stood up at council and apologised (but not to us),” she said, before confirming Cr Uden is banned from the club indefinitely.
Wagga mayor Kerry Pascoe’s initial reaction to the news of the leaked video was blunt: “Not interested”.
“(Cr Uden’s) been through two processes and while I don’t support what he did, (I’m) not going to muckrake and get into it again,” he said.
“I haven’t seen the tape, I’ve heard all about it. I just want to get on with the business (we were) put in council for.”
Cr Pascoe was also not interested in viewing the footage.