Bowls champion seeks diversion for assault

Gary Lawson. Photo / Glenn Jeffrey

Bowls champion Gary Lawson says Wellington police have agreed to diversion on charges of assault and wilful damage, but Christchurch police aren't accepting the arrangement just yet.

Lawson, 45, appeared before Judge Michael Radford in Christchurch District Court today, after the case was transferred from Wellington.

Defence counsel Andrew McKenzie said: "The matters were transferred from Wellington on the understanding from Wellington prosecutions that diversion would be permissible down here."

But he said Christchurch police had refused to grant diversion -- a scheme that allows first offenders to get off without a conviction if they apologise and put matters right.

Judge Radford agreed to an adjournment to December 17 for the mix-up to be sorted out, remanding Lawson at large.

Lawson is charged with charged with assaulting a taxi driver and breaking a wing mirror on his vehicle following an incident in Wellington last month.

- NZPA