Nick Kyrgios’ assault charge dismissed after guilty plea
World no. 20 tennis player Nick Kyrgios faced the ACT Magistrates Court on Friday and dodged a conviction despite a guilty plea.
Nick issued a guilty plea to common assault during an argument with his ex-girlfriend, Chiara Passari, over two years ago in 2021.
Initially, he and his lawyers argued that the charge should be dropped due to his mental health. This was withdrawn when it was revealed to the court that he was not suffering from a “significant depressive illness” at the time.
As Nick’s lawyer - Michael Kukulies-Smith - put it, there was "a relationship between the mental health and the offending - even though he no longer suffers it to the same extent today."
It was then that Nick pleaded guilty to the charge of common assault.
Although Magistrate Beth Campbell rejected the dismissal on mental health grounds, she ultimately dismissed the case, believing that a conviction was not warranted.
The court was informed that Magistrate Campbell would be dealing with Nick’s case in the same manner that she would approach that of any other individual with the same charges, and that Nick’s status as a notable Australian figure would not come into play.
“I am dealing with you in the same way I would deal with any young man in this court,” she said, “you are a young man who happens to hit a tennis ball particularly well."
Although Magistrate Campbell agreed that Chiara Passari was clearly distressed over the 2021 assault, she went on to say that it appeared to be an isolated incident, and an “impulsive and unfortunate response” on Nick’s part. She noted that he was a “young man trying to extricate himself from a heightened emotional situation.”
Michael Kukulies-Smith requested that a conviction not be recorded as Nick had been quick to display remorse for what he had done. Magistrate Beth Campbell went on to dismiss the charge later in the hearing, allowing that no conviction would be recorded.
Nick issued a brief statement to reporters on his way out of the court, thanking the court and confessing that he was “sincerely sorry”.
“I was not in a good place when this took place,” he said, “and I reacted to a difficult situation in a way I deeply regret.
“Mental health is tough. Life can seem overwhelming. But I’ve found that getting help and working on myself has helped me to feel better and to be better.”
Images: Getty