Honeymooners arrested over fruit fight

A fruit fight at an exclusive hotel in Queenstown has landed a honeymooning Australian couple before the court on assault charges. The Gold Coast couple, who married recently, each face a charge of assault after an alleged altercation at the Rees Hotel and Luxury Apartments just two days after their nuptials.

Olivia Mihaljevich, 29, and Ayman Elarnaouty, 33, were arrested after the clash in the hotel on Saturday night which left evidence of the flying fruit on the floor outside their room. The new bride had earlier posted happy photos of the couple's wedding on her Facebook page. Queenstown police Sergeant Keith Newell said that what began as an argument escalated. "



"She threw some fruit at him, which struck him in the head, and he threw it back, striking her," he said. "They then had a physical altercation in the foyer." A hotel spokeswoman said that when staff arrived at the scene outside the couple's room, there were broken apple pieces on the floor. "It's not a big deal - there was nothing smashed," she said. The newlywed couple checked out of the hotel on Tuesday morning.

The hotel supplied fruit bowls in its rooms. Neither Mihaljevich nor Elarnaouty entered a plea when they appeared in Queenstown District Court this week. They were remanded on bail to be considered for diversion before another court appearance this month. It was reported on Thursday that diversion had been completed but police were unable to immediately confirm this and the court said it had not been advised. The hotel offers accommodation from $750 per night for a luxury three-bedroom apartment with a lake view to rooms without a view for $275 a night.