Wallaby winger Ioane avoids conviction

AAP
Updated August 22, 2013, 3:01 pm


Wallabies player Digby Ioane has avoided conviction over an assault at a Melbourne hotel by being placed on a court diversion program.

Ioane, 28, was charged with unlawfully assaulting a man in Prahran on March 9 this year.

The Australian and Queensland Reds winger was placed on a diversion program in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday.

He will face the court again in October to ensure he has complied with the conditions of the diversion, which allow first-time offenders to acknowledge responsibility and be released without conviction.

An arrest warrant was issued for Ioane after he failed to front the court in June, days before the second British and Irish Lions Test.

At the time Australian Rugby Union boss Bill Pulver described the warrant issue as "a storm in a teacup".

The Reds suspended Ioane for one week in March after details emerged he and his older brother were involved in a scuffle reportedly over an iPhone at the Mount Erica Hotel.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-...ds-conviction/

What the heck is a "court diversion programme"???

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Originally Posted by Alison

What the heck is a "court diversion programme"???

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A get out of jail free card?

Sounds like a suspended sentence. Without the sentence?
Posted via Mobile Device

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Originally Posted by Alison

What the heck is a "court diversion programme"???

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Some form of diversionary tactic where the accused gets off scott free and the public is looking the other way?

Sounds pretty right. :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by jono

Sounds like a suspended sentence. Without the sentence?
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Sort of. The offender is given a set of criteria he needs to meet to avoid a conviction. Education programs, community service, restitution etc

According to Wiki.

How is he going to do any of that in France and how will Victoria have any jurisdiction while he's there?? All sounds like a cop out to me.

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Originally Posted by Alison

How is he going to do any of that in France and how will Victoria have any jurisdiction while he's there?? All sounds like a cop out to me.

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In one!
We have to get extradition between states!! How the f** they think they will discover what's going on in France is a joke.
Remember though the judge probably has no idea who he is!

This was imposed by a court. We don't know the mechanics of it. But he's back before the beak in October to prove he's complied. Take it on trust.

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Originally Posted by shasta

This was imposed by a court. We don't know the mechanics of it. But he's back before the beak in October to prove he's complied. Take it on trust.

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Does he have to appear in person? The French season will be in full swing by then so his club will be well pleased!