Hala was sentenced to 8½ months’ home detention after admitting a charge of injuring with intent.
The man was said to have thrown a racist slur at Hala, but the judge said that was possibly a reaction to being dragged outside.
Hala disputed that, saying he followed the man outside and then the man hurled the insult. Either way, the judge said he shouldn’t have hit the man.
Hala struck him so hard he fell backwards, hitting his head against a brick wall.
Hala maintained it was an open-handed slap, rather than a punch. CCTV footage was no use as it happened too quickly, Edwards said.