7 May 2013

Man admits attack on Jesse Ryder

3:32 pm on 7 May 2013

One of the men accused of attacking cricketer Jesse Ryder has pleaded guilty to assault.

The 28-year-old former Black Cap was hospitalised after the assault on 28 March outside a Christchurch bar where he had been socialising with his Firebirds team-mates.

A second charge of assault against the 20-year-old was dropped when the man appeared in the Christchurch District Court on Tuesday, along with a 37-year-old charged with injuring with reckless intent.

Continuing name suppression was granted for the pair.

The lawyer for one of them, Jonathan Eaton, argued that their right to a fair trial would be breached if their names were published.

The older man will face trial at the end of this year.

The 20-year-old will appear in court for a pre-sentence hearing in June.