In 2022, Grant Coleman, 43, struck the 45-year-old in the head at a pub north of Sydney.
In court, Mr. Coleman stated that, as Davidson had a criminal record for child sex offenses, he had attacked him in order to defend the neighborhood.
Mr. Coleman faced criticism from Judge Peter McGrath for attempting to take the law “into his own hands”.
He served as Mr. Davidson’s juror and judge. According to the Australian Associated Press, who also revealed that Davidson had been found guilty of indecently abusing a 15-year-old girl in 2017, “Tragically, Mr. Coleman also became Mr. Davidson’s executioner,” he stated.
Mr. Coleman had developed a “fixation,” Mr. McGrath said.
In August, the 43-year-old entered a guilty plea to charges of common assault and assault resulting in death.
He said he was “haunted” by his crime after receiving his sentence on Friday.
“[When] I became aware of my actions,. He told the district court, “I wanted him to wake up, to regain consciousness,” according to the news.
When Davidson entered the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach, Australia, on a wild card and notably defeated surfing great Kelly Slater in two consecutive heats, he shot to stardom in 1996. Mr. Slater hailed the former athlete as “one of the most naturally talented surfers” he had ever met after his passing.
