Rugby star's assault leaves legacy of fear

Glenn Cooper says his partner is scared in her own house, and that's an issue. Photo / Sarah Ivey

The man who was hit in the face by cancer-stricken Blues player Kurtis Haiu says he has had to put his home on the market.

Glenn Cooper says his partner is no longer comfortable in the Pukekohe home where she has lived for three years. "She's scared in her own house, and that's an issue."

But Mr Cooper says he is pleased that Haiu has pleaded guilty to charges over the incident and hopes to get the matter "out of the way".

Haiu appeared briefly in the Pukekohe District Court yesterday and admitted assaulting Mr Cooper and possessing a weapon (a hammer). He was remanded on bail to next month.

A third charge, of assaulting Mr Cooper's partner, Kirsten St George, was withdrawn.

Haiu's lawyer, Richard Earwaker, asked that convictions not be entered and indicated that he would be seeking a discharge without conviction. He said there was a "considerable background" to the case which would need to be put before the court.

Mr Cooper said the police had told him that if the third charge had been pursued, the matter was likely to have gone to trial.

"Kirsten is fully upset about it ... I couldn't put her through that."

The assault in May is connected to a property deal that turned sour.

Mr Cooper said there was a civil case connected to the property deal but would not comment further.

Told of the possibility of Haiu's discharge without conviction, Mr Cooper said he hoped some form of punishment would be handed down. He said his black eye took three weeks to heal and he still had a lump on his face.

Haiu was supported in court yesterday by his wife, Frieda, and his manager, Bruce Sharrock.

He told reporters outside the court that he was focusing on his health.

The Auckland lock, who has played 53 games for the Blues and 75 for his provincial team, was diagnosed with bone cancer in April and has been on indefinite leave from rugby.