If he said he was collecting and then started shooting you, you are engaged. If he saw your green docking message and you switch characters and come back out, there is a chance you will be sanctioned. If he took screens.
If you managed to loose him and dock while he was out of range, thus he didn't get your green docking message; you are free to switch and go fight him.
Your sanction was before the rules were modified, they were more restrictive then. If you went more than 10k away from the other player or docked at all you were dead.
You could always ask the other player if you can come back or return to the system. I'll tell you right now, on my Reaver, I'm not going to deny you coming back because I want to kill you for the cash. Making you dock doesn't get me paid. I also always let miners come back too, if they didn't complain ooRP I don't touch them again that day. If they did complain ooRP, I give them a few hours then go collect on them again.
![[Image: 50px-OSILogo.png]](http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d37/dannflyheit/Faction%20Icons/50px-OSILogo.png)