Sports · Combat Sports · 1 hr ago
Joe Cordina cleared of assault after judge accepts self-defence
Former world champion Joe Cordina was cleared of assault at Cardiff Magistrates' Court.
The case concerned a February confrontation with Jamie O'Brien outside a petrol station in Pentwyn, Cardiff.
Cordina said he first thought O'Brien was a fan, but the two men argued and O'Brien pushed him with his shoulder.
The judge ruled Cordina's punch was necessary and proportionate because he believed he needed to defend himself and had only a split second to react.
O'Brien had already pleaded guilty to assault by beating.
The court found the charge against Cordina was not proved, and dismissed it.
The case followed video of the confrontation being shared online, and it had led to Cordina being denied entry to the United States for a title fight.
Cordina's lawyer said he now wanted to focus on boxing, and hoped to see him fight in December.
Joe Cordina was found not guilty of assault by beating after a trial at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court.
District Judge Charlotte Murphy ruled that Cordina believed he needed to defend himself and that his punch was proportionate.
The case concerned a February confrontation with Jamie O’Brien outside Pentwyn service station in Cardiff.
O’Brien had pleaded guilty to assault by beating over the incident.
- Who
- Joe Cordina, 34, was cleared of assaulting Jamie O’Brien, 33.
- What
- A district judge found Cordina not guilty of assault by beating.
- When
- The verdict was delivered on 20 October 2026. The incident happened in February.
- Where
- Cardiff Magistrates’ Court; the incident took place outside Pentwyn service station in Cardiff.
- Why
- The judge found Cordina believed he needed to use force to defend himself and that his punch was proportionate.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Cordina and O’Brien were involved in a confrontation outside Pentwyn service station in Cardiff.
Police began investigating the incident.
District Judge Charlotte Murphy found Cordina not guilty of assault by beating.
- Verdict
- Not guilty of assault by beating
- Court
- Cardiff Magistrates’ Court
- Judge
- Charlotte Murphy
- Incident location
- Pentwyn service station, Cardiff
- People involved
- Joe Cordina, 34; Jamie O’Brien, 33
- O’Brien’s plea
- Previously pleaded guilty to assault by beating
4 sources
What people are saying
I am further satisfied that a single, measured, controlled punch was proportionate in the circumstances.
It is very easy to consider the defendant's response by considering the CCTV in slow motion, however the defendant had a split second to consider his response to the shoulder barge.
He had his hands in his pockets, I don’t know what people carry on them these days
Today's verdict is a huge relief for Joe and everybody who is close to him.