Criminal lawyer explains why Sam Burgess AVO appeal was allowed

NRL star Sam Burgess has had his conviction for intimidation and AVO overturned on appeal at Goulburn District Court.

Mr Burgess had previously been convicted of Intimidation and an Apprehended Violence Order (AVO) was made for the protection of Mr Mitch Bourke - his father-in-law.

The 32-year-old was initially convicted and sentenced to a two-year community corrections order at Moss Vale Local Court.

However Judge Mark Williams took a different view of the evidence, and dismissed both the charge and the AVO.

What happened?

On October 19, 2019 Burgess attended Mitch Hooke's property in the Southern Highlands. It was there that the parties engaged in a verbal argument.