Embattled former tv introduced Andrew O’Keefe will return to court the place he’s preventing allegations he spat within the face of a lady earlier than kicking her and leaving her with scratches throughout her arms and chest.
The 51-year-old is going through the second a part of his listening to in Sydney’s Downing Centre Native Court over expenses of frequent assault, contravening an Safety Order, resisting a police officer and assault occasioning precise bodily hurt.
O’Keefe has already confronted two days of listening to in February over the issues, which relate to an incident in September 2021 at a Sydney residence.
He is because of return to court on Wednesday, the place the defence case will start.
Earlier this yr, neighbour Nicole Taylor advised the court that on the evening of the alleged incident she may hear O’Keefe singing within the residence beneath hers earlier than it became a “scuffle”.
LISTEN to the brand new podcast
Court within the Act
Contained in the courtroom with Tim Clarke.
Discover out extra
“There was loud noises and yelling … the extent of noise the place you realise one thing was mistaken,” Ms Taylor mentioned.
Ms Taylor advised the court she may inform O’Keefe was “aggressive and indignant” whereas the alleged sufferer was trying to “calm him down”.
She went downstairs to verify the girl who owned the residence was all proper and seen “scratches” throughout her chest, the court heard.
“It was the very first thing I noticed, she was actually shaken … her voice, her physique, she was in lots of shock and concern at that stage,” Ms Taylor mentioned.
“She had scratches up her arms and marks on her chest … she was limping and I requested her what had occurred.”
The court was advised the alleged sufferer had advised her neighbour she had been kicked and spat on by O’Keefe.
O’Keefe later returned to the residence however Ms Taylor walked him out of the complicated and requested if he was all proper.
She advised the court O’Keefe mentioned: “What do you suppose?”
“He was flustered and he was indignant … his hand gestures and his physique language (confirmed he was agitated),” she advised the court.
“It was somebody who was not completely happy a few scenario.”
The court was additionally proven footage exhibiting O’Keefe sprawled out on the entrance steps of the residence complicated, complaining of chest ache.
Footage additionally confirmed police discovering the complainant, who’s seen crying and holding her wrist which is roofed in scratches.
When police method O’Keefe within the footage to ask questions, he’s seen shutting them down.
“I can’t make any feedback with out a lawyer current … they’re making claims in opposition to me that are false,” he advised Constable Elissa Main.
O’Keefe’s defence barrister, Richard Pontello SC, requested Constable Main a few dialog the place the previous TV star mentioned the complainant allegedly “inflicted the abrasion on herself”.
“Did he say, ‘I’m positive it was unintentional and was an unconscious or absent minded bodily response to emphasize,’” Mr Pontello requested.
Constable Main replied: “These phrases weren’t mentioned.”
O’Keefe scoffed and shook his head.
On the primary day of the listening to, police prosecutor Michael Cleaver withdrew six expenses relating to a different complainant: two counts of deliberately choking an individual with out consent, three counts of frequent assault and one depend of assault occasioning precise bodily hurt.
O’Keefe pleaded responsible to 1 depend of contravening an apprehended violence order.
He spent virtually 5 months in custody on remand after he was charged with the offences earlier than he was launched on bail.
The previous TV star has confronted a distinct sort of highlight because the assault allegations got here to mild, following an extended profession with Channel 7.
In 2017, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for his charity work and accomplishments in tv.
The listening to will proceed earlier than Justice of the Peace Alison Viney on Wednesday.
