A man accused of bashing Fair Go reporter Gordon Harcourt in Mt Maunganui has now also been charged with intentionally damaging a camera.
Harcourt was left with a black eye, a bleeding nose and suspected concussion after he was allegedly punched three times on Friday by a used car dealer who had been the subject of a Fair Go investigation.
A 47-year-old company director was originally charged with assault and will appear in Tauranga District Court on Thursday.
Detective Sergeant Darryl Brazier told the Bay of Plenty Times that after reviewing the assault file, a second charge of intentional damage to the camera had now been laid.
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Advertise with NZME.A cameraman was present and as footage of the incident is now being used as evidence it is unlikely the investigation will be screened on Wednesday night as the case is now before the courts.
TVNZ has yet to confirm it will not screen the investigation piece.
Head of news and current affairs Anthony Flannery said, on the company's website, the incident was "deeply concerning".
"Occasionally Fair Go crews are jostled and threatened while filming, but rarely has anyone been physically assaulted in the programme's 34-year history," he said.
- NZPA
