A professional rugby player facing two charges of injuring
with intent to injure cannot be named, despite a judge
lifting a suppression order.
The player allegedly assaulted a man and left him unconscious
in a Northland pub car park last October.
He has been granted interim name suppression on the charges,
but that suppression was lifted by Judge Keith de Ridder in
Whangarei District Court today.
However, the player's lawyer immediately appealed the judge's
decision to the High Court, meaning his name remains
suppressed until the appeal is heard.
A date has yet to be set to hear the appeal.
The October incident outside the Mangawhai Tavern was one of
several resulting in senior representative rugby players
being prosecuted in the past year, facing charges of
off-field violence.
All Blacks and Chiefs forward Sione Lauaki was this week
charged with assault over an incident in a Hamilton bar last
week and is due to appear in Hamilton District Court on March
23.
In 2006, he was offered police diversion after admitting
assaulting a Hamilton security officer. Last year, he
underwent an anger management course after appearing in court
for damaging an Auckland motel unit.
In December, Taranaki rugby player Paul Perez, 23, was fined
$750 for choking and punching his pregnant partner.
In July, Highlanders winger Lucky Mulipola was ordered to pay
$5000 reparation to a member of the public he assaulted and
complete 180 hours of community service.
In June, two charges of assaulting his partner were dropped
against All Blacks flanker Adam Thomson after Joanna Holley
told a court she had "overreacted" and that any physical
contact during an after-wedding argument had been accidental.
In May, Taranaki rugby representative Shayne Austin and a
deaf accomplice were each sentenced to 200 hours community
work on two charges of assault with intent to injure.
Austin had admitted repeatedly punching two men, when he took
exception to comments made about his friend's disability.
Last March, Hurricanes hooker Dane Coles pleaded guilty to
disorderly behaviour after abusing and manhandling police in
a drunken scuffle. He was ordered to appear for sentencing if
called upon in the next six months.
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