A woman who fought off an attacker is furious to hear her
alleged assailant could face a reduced charge.
West Auckland resident Noreen Roudon, 26, famously fought off
an attacker last November, scratching him with acrylic
fingernails she had applied for a Nicki Minaj concert.
An unemployed West Auckland man who is accused of the attack
has interim name suppression. Courts confirmed this week the
man faces aggravated assault charges, specifically assault
with intent to facilitate indecent assault. The crime carries
a maximum jail term of three years.
Roudon said police had advised her the charge could be
changed to male-assaults-female, a crime carrying a two-year
maximum jail sentence.
It is understood the accused man's counsel said there might
be a plea bargain with police. "I got really upset," Roudon
said. "It was a shock to the system."
Roudon was set upon after getting off a train at Sunnyvale on
November 23. Roudon spoke out in the Herald on Sunday and the
CCTV footage was released. Roudon said a less serious assault
charge gave people the wrong impression of what happened.
"I was gutted because I hoped people don't think I just
picked a fight with someone random."
The possible plea bargain was not the first surprise for
Roudon since the attack.
In December, she learned the man was bailed to a Henderson
address only 750m from her home. Roudon has since moved
house.
Henderson police did not return calls this week to talk about
the case.
The 26-year-old man will reappear in court next month.
- by John Weekes of the Herald on Sunday
A name, residential address, and (preferably residential) telephone number is required from readers who comment on ODT Online. These details will not be visible to site visitors.