The family of an Australian teen allegedly assaulted by a former All Black when he objected to the rugby player's unwanted attention to a 15-year-old girl is reportedly preparing a civil suit.
Fiji Police Sergeant Suliano Tevita last week confirmed Robin Brooke was being investigated over the alleged sexual harassment of the Auckland girl at the Hilton Denarau on New Year's Eve.
The 15-year-old girl had worked part-time to save her airfare to Fiji to stay with a school friend whose father, Philip Buckleton, owns Beachside Resort at Nadi.
"We took [the girls] to Denarau for New Year because it had security and it was safe," Mr Buckleton said last week.
The girls were sitting next to the pool when Brooke walked past and allegedly grabbed one on the buttocks.
"She yelled out something like `what the hell do you think you're doing, that's disgusting'. A short time later he came back and did exactly the same thing to the same girl, which she couldn't believe."
When the girl's 17-year-old Australian friend, Jordan Whittaker, stepped in, Brooke told him to "settle down or I'll knock you the f**k out".
"He threw me on a deckchair and grabbed my throat ... one of the other girls went and got a guard ... he kept saying 'settle down' and eventually I just said `no'."
The Herald on Sunday today reported Jordan's family doubted charges would be laid and they had started civil proceedings.
Their lawyer, Peter Lowing OBE, sent an email to the 15-year-old's mother saying Sydney lawyer Stuart Littlemore, QC, would be involved.
"On the advice of Mr Littlemore we would initially write to Mr Brooke asking for a written apology and an amount of money as compensation for the assault," Mr Lowing said in the email.
"In all probability Mr Brooke would welcome the opportunity to come to some arrangement without allowing a writ to be served."
Lowing did not expect Fiji police to charge Brooke for reasons including his sporting background, the newspaper reported.
The girl's mother said they were considering joining in the civil proceedings.
"We are not interested in his [Brooke's] money. We won't accept any money," she told the newspaper.
"He actually hurt our daughter. It wasn't just a pinch on the bum -- he physically hurt her and she was doing nothing to provoke that."
NZPA