Collingwood's Ryan Cook expected to be charged over assault
Brendan Roberts | April 02, 2009
COLLINGWOOD young gun Ryan Cook is expected to be charged within days over a savage attack in country Victoria that left a man with horrific facial injuries.
The Herald Sun believes Cook, 21, is likely to be charged with assault and recklessly causing serious injury over an early-morning incident outside a Sale service station on January 18.
Cook was in the town to celebrate Collingwood vice-captain Scott Pendlebury's 21st birthday.
Collingwood, on behalf of Cook, has strenuously denied any wrongdoing.
The alleged victim of the attack, Jason Millar, 28, suffered severe facial injuries including a broken nose, cheek and two fractured eye sockets after he was allegedly punched twice to the face.
He has had extensive surgery, with a metal plate and up to 10 screws inserted to hold his face toge ther.
Mr Millar is said to be still suffering severe after-effects, including a recurring blood nose and pain in his left eye.
"It's been a difficult period, but that's all I can say right now,'' Mr Millar said.
Mr Millar said he was surprised by Collingwood's reaction, after rumours of the alleged assault and subsequent police investigation surfaced in early February.
At the time, Collingwood took the extraordinary step of releasing a statement saying that an internal investigation had cleared Cook of any wrongdoing.
"Through the club's investigation it appears that Ryan acted entirely in self-defence and the club will not be taking any disciplinary action against the player,'' the statement read.
A Collingwood spokesman told the Herald Sun that Cook had consumed alcohol on the night of the incident, but not excessively.
"I'm shocked that he's claiming self-defence,'' Mr Millar said in response to the club's statement.
Collingwood Football Club chief executive Gary Pert said late yesterday that Cook would been charged.
"Ryan Cook's legal representatives have late this afternoon been advised that Ryan will be charged as a result of a recent incident that took place in Sale,'' Mr Pert said.
"Once documentation has been received Ryan will meet with the club and his legal representatives to establish his steps from this point.''
It is not known whether any of Cook's teammates witnessed the alleged attack.
Cook played nine games last year, for a career total of 12, and was part of the Magpies' 2009 NAB Cup campaign.
He was brought into the team late last year when Collingwood stars Alan Didak and Heath Shaw were suspended by the club after a late-night drink driving incident in Hawthorn.
While Shaw admitted to his involvement in the incident, the club was told by both players that Didak attended the crash scene after the incident to aid his teammate.
After rejecting media speculation about Didak's true involvement, the club later admitted the players had lied.
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,25281753-19742,00.html
