New Zealand: Arrest warrant issued after straight panic bar attacker fails to attend court

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A warrant has been issued to arrest a man charged with assaulting the manager of a gay bar after he realised he was surrounded by gay customers, because he did not turn up in court.

Ivy Bar and Cabaret manager Steven Mawhinney was left with head injuries after a group of drinkers last Friday “freaked out” after noticing that they were surrounded by gay customers.

He said the attackers, on realising, began to leave, but not before shouting profanities, including anti-gay slurs. They also threw a can of alcohol at customers who were entering the bar.

After the offenders were forced out of the bar by Mr Mawhinney, then he said they began hitting him. He said he was punched around eight times in the face.

One 23-year-old man Adrian Alf Wayne Sherman was arrested on the night of the incident, and was charged with two counts of common assault.

A warrant was issued by a Wellington District Court registrar after he failed to appear in court yesterday.

 

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