Kyrgios seeking to have assault charge dismissed on mental health grounds - media

[October 04, 2022] MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios is seeking to have his assault charge dismissed on mental health grounds, media reported on Tuesday.

Kyrgios is facing a charge of common assault in relation to an incident in January 2021 which his barrister said involved a "domestic relationship".

Kyrgios's lawyer, Michael Kukulies-Smith, requested an adjournment at the ACT Magistrates Court on Tuesday to allow time to prepare forensic mental health reports on his client, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported.

The adjournment was granted by the court, the ABC said.

The case is expected to return to court in February.

Kyrgios is competing at the Japan Open in Tokyo and did not appear in court.

Police charged Kyrgios following allegations made in Dec. 2021.

Nick Kyrgios of Australia in a match against Karen Khachanov (not pictured) on day nine of the 2022 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports/File Photo

Australian media reported in July that the charge was related to a complaint made by a former girlfriend.

Kyrgios in February wrote on social media about battling depression and substance abuse around the time of the 2019 Australian Open, but said he had since turned his life around.

The 27-year-old was originally to appear in court in July but the case was adjourned to August and then pushed back another six weeks.

(Reporting by Ian Ransom in Melbourne; Editing by Peter Rutherford)

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