Police retract statement on May and Prestia over alleged brawl

Melbourne’s Steven May and Richmond’s Dion Prestia are believed to be temporarily relieved from charges over an alleged incident in Sorrento last December.

This morning, Victoria Police released a statement declaring that the two men were set to be charged on summons, however it has since been reported by Channel 9 journalist and SEN regular Tom Morris that the police will retract their comments, releasing the men as the incident continues to be investigated.

Morris earlier reported that the Demons’ premiership defender May and the Tigers’ triple flag winner Prestia are two of the men in question.

The pair were part of a larger group who had been celebrating a bucks party at the Continental Hotel in Sorento on Boxing Day.

A statement from Victoria Police reads: “Mornington Peninsula Crime Investigation Unit detectives have interviewed three men as part of their investigation into an affray in Sorrento on 27 December.

“The interviews follow a report to police about a physical altercation between two groups of men on Point Nepean Road about 2am.

“Two men were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries at the time.

“A 32-year-old man from Hawthorn, a 33-year-old man from Mount Eliza and a 26-year-old Blairgowrie man have all been interviewed in relation the incident.

“The trio are expected to be charged on summons.”

It is understood that Rye man Will Salter suffered a fractured nose, broken eye socket and detached retina during a fight that left him legally blind in one eye.

Morris says both the Demons and Tigers will wait for a formal notification of the charges before commenting.

Channel 7's Mitch Cleary has also reported May and Prestia as the two men.

It is understood that both May and Prestia have strongly denied any wrongdoing.

May said in February: “I think the truth will come out soon when the police investigation is done.”

Richmond commented on Prestia’s reported involvement at the time, insisting the best and fairest midfielder witnessed the fracas but was not involved.

Prestia’s premiership teammate Noah Balta was recently sentenced for assaulting a man in Mulwala, also in December last year.

SEN is contacting both Melbourne and Richmond for comment.