August 12, 2011

Rugby player denies assault

By David Clarkson at the Nga Hau e Wha marae

Canterbury ITM Cup rugby player Paea Fa?anunu pleaded not guilty to an assault charge he faced at the Christchurch District Court today.

The case will go to trial and has been sent for a pre-trial hearing on September 13, with the 22-year-old front-rower released on bail.

Judge Colin Doherty accepted the plea and granted the remand today, and had also granted permission for The Press to photograph Fa?anunu during his appearance at the Nga Hau e Wha marae.

However, acting defence counsel Jeff McCall said the application had not been properly served by the court on Fa?anunu nor his lawyer, and asked for it to be set aside.

Judge Doherty then agreed to set it aside ? meaning the photograph could not be published ? but ordered the defence counsel to serve documents detailing why it should not be granted, upon the newspaper?s lawyers, by September 2.