Nick Kyrgios will seek to have assault charge dismissed on mental health grounds, court hears

Nick Kyrgios will seek to have his assault charge dismissed on mental health grounds.

Lawyers for the tennis star appeared in Australian Capital Territory magistrates court on Tuesday and asked for an adjournment so forensic mental health reports could be prepared.

They will then apply to have the matter dismissed under a section of the local crimes act.

The act gives magistrates the power to dismiss a charge if they are satisfied an accused is mentally impaired and dealing with a matter in that way would benefit the community along with the offender.

The common assault charge relates to an alleged incident in January 2021 that was reported to ACT police in December.

Kyrgios’s lawyer Michael Kukulies-Smith said the tennis player’s mental health history since 2015 made the application appropriate, citing a number of public statements made by the world No.20.

The court heard Kyrgios wanted to attend the application hearing in person.

The matter was stood down to arrange a date for the hearing.

source: theguardian.com