Queenstown ex-bouncer Jonathan Dixon can now drink alcohol and frequent licensed premises after a relaxation of his bail conditions.
Judge John Macdonald cancelled Dixon’s curfew and alcohol conditions in Invercargill District Court during a brief appearance yesterday (Thursday).
Dixon, 42, was represented by Dunedin counsel John Westgate - his third lawyer in as many appearances – during a pre-trial callover on a charge of dishonestly accessing a computer system.
It relates to CCTV footage from inside Queenstown bar Altitude, which Dixon uploaded to YouTube during last year’s Rugby World Cup. The footage showed English rugby star Mike Tindall – who'd just married the Queen’s granddaughter Zara Phillips - partying with an ex-girlfriend. It created an international media frenzy.
Dixon also faces a second charge, wounding with reckless disregard causing grievous bodily harm. That charge was laid after an alleged bar assault in Queenstown in January, which left the victim Jordan Sinke, 26, in an induced coma.
Dixon appeared before a jury on that matter last month but it lasted just one court session, before a mistrial was declared. The reasons were suppressed.
Westgate told Judge Macdonald the strict bail conditions imposed on Dixon were becoming onerous after nine months.
A 9pm-7am curfew sees police visiting the address he’s bailed to at any time during the night, waking the young child of the people he’s living with, Westgate says.
The condition prohibiting Dixon from consuming alcohol or being on licensed premises is also having a side effect - Dixon’s IT clients often want to meet at licensed cafes and he has to explain he can’t.
Mr Westgate told the judge Dixon was sober at the time of the alleged assault and had been working in an industry where he was preventing drunk people from getting into trouble.
Crown solicitor Mary-Jane Thomas said following several High Court decisions she found it difficult to argue against the application.
Judge Macdonald cancelled the curfew and alcohol conditions of Dixon’s bail but ordered he report to Queenstown police station every Friday between 2pm and 6pm.
Dixon was further remanded to reappear in the Invercargill District Court on November 26 when there was a possibility the computer trial would be heard that week or the next. He was remanded to February 18, for a retrial on the assault charge.
Gotta say I don't know what happened that night, neither does the victim, or apparently anyone. But if sentences were consistent this guy's virtual house arrest has had a far bigger effect than most court sentences for assault seem to get. I sure hope he actually did it.
24 Sep 2012 05:03PMalpresidente
^ Why dont you wait for the evidence to actually come out before pre-judging someone? I'm gonna pre-judge you and say that you're a person created by incestial means, perhaps you should be the one flying out of town.
24 Sep 2012 02:57PMbatman
Can this guy be the first to get put on a plane out of town ?
Actually, is it safe to type this or will he be online spying on me now ?
21 Sep 2012 02:54PMsparkydiaz
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