Fruit-fighting honeymooners granted diversion

A honeymooning couple who were arrested and both charged with assault following a fruit fight at an exclusive Queenstown hotel have been granted diversion.

The recently married Gold Coast couple each faced a charge of assault after an alleged altercation at the Rees Hotel and Luxury Apartments.

Olivia Mihaljevich, 29, and Ayman Elarnaouty, 33, were arrested after the clash in the hotel on Saturday night which left evidence of the flying fruit on the floor outside their room.

Court documents listed the newlywed husband as a doctor and his wife as a nurse.

Queenstown police Sergeant Keith Newell earlier told the Otago Daily Times that what began as an argument escalated. "She threw some fruit at him, which struck him in the head, and he threw it back, striking her," he said.

"They then had a physical altercation in the foyer."

The couple were then arrested and both charged with assault. Elarnaouty was also ordered to surrender his passport to police.

Mihaljevich and Elarnaouty both appeared at the Queenstown District Court on Monday, but did not enter pleas.

They were then remanded on bail pending diversion, court staff confirmed.

Queenstown police Senior Constable Chris Blackford today said the young couple were successful in their bid for diversion and the charges had been withdrawn.

A condition of their diversion was to attend a session with a local Queenstown psychologist, Mr Blackford said.

A Ministry of Justice spokeswoman confirmed that diversion was complete and the couple's charging documents would be dismissed later today.

The new bride had earlier posted happy photos of the couple's wedding ceremony on her Facebook page.

A hotel spokeswoman said that when staff arrived at the scene outside the couple's room, there were broken apple pieces on the floor.

"It's not a big deal -- there was nothing smashed," she said.

The newlywed couple checked out of the hotel on Tuesday morning.

The hotel supplied fruit bowls in its rooms.

Another hotel worker had seen the couple in the resort town on Monday night, "and they were okay".

Mihaljevich did not wish to comment when contacted.

The hotel offers accommodation ranging from $750 per night for a luxury three-bedroom apartment with a lake view to rooms without a view for $275 a night.