The two men accused of assaulting star cricketer Jesse Ryder have appeared in court this morning. The pair, aged 20 and 37 and both from Christchurch, appeared in the dock at Christchurch District Court at the post-earthquake temporary Nga Hau e Wha Marae venue.
The 37-year-old has been charged with assaulting Jesse Daniel Ryder and also with reckless disregard for the safety of others. The younger man, believed to be his nephew, is facing two charges of assault, one in connection with the older man.
A media law expert says suppression orders should be taken very seriously - and not just by the media.
Video footage of the two men accused of attacking cricketer Jesse Ryder has been posted online, despite a judge granting them interim name suppression.
The footage clearly shows the men's identities.
Canterbury University's School of Law Professor Ursula Cheer says suppression orders are there for a very good reason.
"There is a right to fair trial in New Zealand, it's in the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act and individuals don't have the right to splash stuff about just because they think somebody did something."
