Matabele
Journey Man
Greg Inglis avoids conviction over assault charge
Melbourne Storm star Greg Inglis has escaped a conviction and been ordered to complete a diversion order after this morning accepting responsibility for an open-hand push on on-again, off-again partner Sally Robinson.
Inglis had been facing charges of unlawful assault and recklessly causing injury to Ms Robinson after an incident at her home in August last year.
However, the Sunshine Magistrates Court was this morning told the charge of recklessly causing injury had been dropped.
Inglis's defence counsel Robert Richter, QC, said Inglis accepted the information provided in Ms Robinson's initial statement to police that he had pushed her onto the bed with an open hand after she had "got into [Inglis's] face."
Ms Robinson appeared in court with Inglis, the couple holding hands at times. She had not been present at his three previous appearances.
Magistrate Lionel Winton-Smith said he accepted the circumstances as put by the defence in regards to the assault and he ordered Inglis to also attend a men's behaviour change program and donate $3000 to a women's health organisation.
There was no mention in court this morning of a claim made by Inglis's defence team last year that the 23-year-old had acted in self-defence in that he was protecting Ms Robinson from harming herself.
Inglis's charge caused a media storm last year as he is widely regarded as the best player in the game, a view reinforced by his winning the Golden Boot award for the world's best player.
He had become the face of the NRL after Brett Stewart's fall from grace following a drunken pre-season club function and an alleged sexual assault on a teenage girl.
He was stood down by the Melbourne Storm for two games but returned in time for the team's charge through the finals and the grand final win against Parramatta, claiming his second premiership ring with the club. He also played a significant part in Australia's successful Four Nations campaign last year.
Mr Richter told the court that Ms Robinson said in her initial statement to police that she had not been hurt by the push and did not want action taken against Inglis.
Detective Senior Sergeant Kerin Moloney said outside court that police treated any incident of domestic violence seriously and would continue to pursue cases vigorously whether the alleged victim wanted that course of action or not.
Inglis did not answer questions outside court, but Storm acting chief executive Matt Hanson read a prepared statement.
"[The Storm] understands why Greg accepted the diversion order today. The club will continue to offer counselling services for both Sally and Greg," Hanson said.
"This has obviously been an extremely difficult time for Sally and Greg and again we accept their right to privacy in this intensely private matter."
Melbourne Storm star Greg Inglis has escaped a conviction and been ordered to complete a diversion order after this morning accepting responsibility for an open-hand push on on-again, off-again partner Sally Robinson.
Inglis had been facing charges of unlawful assault and recklessly causing injury to Ms Robinson after an incident at her home in August last year.
However, the Sunshine Magistrates Court was this morning told the charge of recklessly causing injury had been dropped.
Inglis's defence counsel Robert Richter, QC, said Inglis accepted the information provided in Ms Robinson's initial statement to police that he had pushed her onto the bed with an open hand after she had "got into [Inglis's] face."
Ms Robinson appeared in court with Inglis, the couple holding hands at times. She had not been present at his three previous appearances.
Magistrate Lionel Winton-Smith said he accepted the circumstances as put by the defence in regards to the assault and he ordered Inglis to also attend a men's behaviour change program and donate $3000 to a women's health organisation.
There was no mention in court this morning of a claim made by Inglis's defence team last year that the 23-year-old had acted in self-defence in that he was protecting Ms Robinson from harming herself.
Inglis's charge caused a media storm last year as he is widely regarded as the best player in the game, a view reinforced by his winning the Golden Boot award for the world's best player.
He had become the face of the NRL after Brett Stewart's fall from grace following a drunken pre-season club function and an alleged sexual assault on a teenage girl.
He was stood down by the Melbourne Storm for two games but returned in time for the team's charge through the finals and the grand final win against Parramatta, claiming his second premiership ring with the club. He also played a significant part in Australia's successful Four Nations campaign last year.
Mr Richter told the court that Ms Robinson said in her initial statement to police that she had not been hurt by the push and did not want action taken against Inglis.
Detective Senior Sergeant Kerin Moloney said outside court that police treated any incident of domestic violence seriously and would continue to pursue cases vigorously whether the alleged victim wanted that course of action or not.
Inglis did not answer questions outside court, but Storm acting chief executive Matt Hanson read a prepared statement.
"[The Storm] understands why Greg accepted the diversion order today. The club will continue to offer counselling services for both Sally and Greg," Hanson said.
"This has obviously been an extremely difficult time for Sally and Greg and again we accept their right to privacy in this intensely private matter."
