Ray Newman granted absolute discharge

A St. John's man recently acquitted of murdering his estranged wife has now been granted an absolute discharge on other charges.

Ray Newman was found not guilty of killing Chrissy Predham Newman on November 28.

He was back in court Fridayto facecharges of assault and breaching a court order.

While out on bail last year, Newman assaulted a security guard who was tasked to watch his house.

The guard had been hired by the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services to keep an eye on Newman while he was having visitation with his daughter.

On the day in question, the guard was mistaken, and Newman's daughter wasn't there.

Newman got angry and started shoving snow onto the guard's vehicle, and then pinned the guard against the car door when he tried to get out.

Newman was charged and spent 16 days in jail before being released again on bail.

The charges were put on hold until the murder case outcome was decided.

In court Friday, Newman, 35, pleaded guilty to the assault and breaching a court order to keep the peace.

Newman's lawyer, Mike King, told the court that Newman was under a huge amount of stress and embarrassment at having the guard watch him.

King noted that Newman had been under bail conditions for 18 months prior to the assault and hadn't breached any of them.

Judge James Walsh noted that the assault was very minor and that Newman wouldn't likely have gotten 16 days for the assault.

King called Newman's situation at the time 'exceptional' and asked for an absolute discharge. Judge Walsh agreed.

Essentially this means that even though Newman pleaded guilty, he doesn't have a criminal record.