Diversion for assault outside casino
Diversion has been granted to a 28-year-old man who handed himself in to police after images were released relating to a New Year assault outside Christchurch Casino.
The diversion settlement was announced at a pre-trial session in the Christchurch District Court today.
It means that Ryan Stephen Lynch, of Linwood, has accepted the assault charge but he will not get a conviction.
He had been accused of assaulting Michelle Coker. A more serious Crimes Act charge of assaulting a woman had been reduced.
The diversion scheme allows first offenders facing less serious charges, who admit the offending, to escape a criminal conviction usually in return for an apology, a donation to charity, payment of reparations, or some community service.
In this case, Lynch has agreed to pay $250 to the 47-year-old victim as emotional harm reparations.
Michelle Coker suffered severe bruising after being struck in the face as she and her daughter were getting into the car outside the casino about 1am on January 1.
Police examined CCTV footage taken outside the casino and issued photographs of two people they wanted to speak to as part of the investigation. Lynch contacted the police soon after, and was then charged.
He originally pleaded not guilty and was remanded to a case review session.
Category: News
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