Four Square costume man admits assault
Darts fan Giuseppe Lyle Vassalini must pay $750 to the teenager he assaulted on an Auckland train while dressed as the Four Square man.
Vassalini, a 32-year-old manager, will escape a conviction for the assault though, after a Christchurch District Court judge today accepted that the consequences of the conviction were out of all proportion to the gravity of the offending.
Judge David Saunders granted the discharge without conviction after Vassalini admitted the low-level assault charge.
Defence counsel Anselm Williams applied for the discharge and said the police were taking “a neutral stance”. The police prosecutor confirmed that, but said the assault had had a significant effect on the victim.
The incident took place on August 12, when it was believed Vassalini was travelling by train from Britomart to the Auckland Darts Masters. He was with four associates who were all wearing Four Square man costumes.
The group wore Mr Four Square masks, white aprons printed with the Four Square logo, turquoise shirts and red ties.
Police said: “Upon boarding the train, Vassalini and his associates began to draw the attention of several members of the public.”
One of the group grabbed the victim, before being pulled away by another member of the group.
Vassalini then approached the victim from the side and shoved him with his hands, causing him to lose his balance and fall against the side of the train. At this moment, the defendant’s head collided with the victim’s face.
The victim was dazed and had a sore and swollen lip. He did not need any medical treatment.
Vassalini told police he had pushed the victim, but denied hitting him with his head. He said he was only trying to stop the victim from making the situation worse.
Judge Saunders said he had read quite a bit about Vassalini. He had offered to pay emotional harm compensation to the victim. The money will have to be paid almost immediately, for the discharge to be granted.
Category: News
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