He was a outstanding face on Aussie tv, recognized for his charismatic on-air persona.
However Andrew O’Keefe has confronted a distinct type of highlight since home assault allegations got here to gentle in 2021 following an extended profession with Channel 7.
This week the 52-year-old former lawyer confronted a listening to in Sydney’s Downing Centre Native Court on prices of frequent assault, contravening an Safety Order, resisting a police officer, possess prohibited drug and assault occasioning precise bodily hurt.
He has since pleaded responsible to the Safety Order breach however denies the opposite prices.
The alleged offending begins with a home violence incident at a Sydney condo in September 2021, his arrest two days later and drugs discovered at his property the next January.
‘I SAW HER DRAW BLOOD”
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The home assault prices relate to an incident at a girl’s home in September 2021.
O’Keefe informed the court he was staying on the lady’s home as a consequence of being a detailed contact of a Covid-infected particular person on the time.
An argument broke out between O’Keefe and the girl, who O’Keefe mentioned walked as much as him in what he informed the court was a “restrained fury” and claimed he known as her child a c**t.
As he was leaving, the 52-year previous informed the court the girl was “agitated” and seen her hand was round her wrist along with her nails digging into her pores and skin.
He informed the court: “I noticed her draw blood.”
O’Keefe informed the court he was “greatly surprised” by the confrontation and had by no means known as the girl’s child a c**t.
Throughout cross-examination by police prosecutor Michael Cleaver, O’Keefe admitted he mentioned to the girl the child was a “manipulative piece of sh*t”.
He informed the court the girl informed him to go away, known as him a liar and threatened to name the police.
O’Keefe responded: “You suppose I’m a liar, I feel you’re a mad canine.”
As he was making an attempt to gather his belongings, O’Keefe informed the court the girl was following him round and he needed to “push previous her”.
“I used to be decided to get into the lavatory, so I grabbed her by the shoulders – it wasn’t a agency seize in any respect, it was for the needs of getting her to the facet,” O’Keefe informed the court.
After retrieving his treatment from the lavatory, O’Keefe informed the court the girl “slapped him throughout the chest with the again of her hand”.
“I mentioned to her … ‘in case you’re going to name the police, nice, since you’ve simply assaulted me’,” O’Keefe informed the court.
At one level, he mentioned, the girl grabbed him in a “monkey-style grip” along with her arms and he continued to stroll, carrying her total physique weight.
O’Keefe mentioned one thing tripped them up and each he and the girl fell, together with his weight on high of her.
The previous tv presenter informed the court that he acquired up and located the remainder of his belongings earlier than making certain the girl was all proper, mentioned goodbye and headed to the door.
A CONCERNED NEIGHBOUR
Neighbour Nicole Taylor was in her condo when she heard a “scuffle” within the condo under hers.
“The floorboards have been fairly unforgiving … it escalated to the sound of a scuffle virtually,” Ms Taylor informed the court in February.
“There was loud noises and yelling … the extent of noise the place you realise one thing was fallacious.”
Ms Taylor informed the court that she might inform O’Keefe was “aggressive and indignant”, whereas the alleged sufferer was trying to “calm him down”.
Moments later she went downstairs to verify the girl was all proper when she seen “scratches” throughout her chest.
“It was the very first thing I noticed, she was actually shaken … her voice, her physique, she was in plenty 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 informed that the alleged sufferer informed her neighbour that O’Keefe had kicked and spat on her.
‘I THOUGHT I WAS HAVING A HEART attack’
Within the days main as much as the incident, the court was informed O’Keefe was in mattress lots as a consequence of an sickness.
After the argument, he left the condo however didn’t make it far as a consequence of his telephone being out of battery.
O’Keefe informed the court that he knocked on the door and was ignored by the girl, who later answered and mentioned she would get his telephone charger, leaving him ready for an additional 10 minutes.
At this level, O’Keefe went to the again of the complicated and reached by means of the again window to get his telephone charger from the kitchen.
By the point he made it again up the steps, O’Keefe mentioned he was exhausted.
“I assumed I used to be having a coronary heart assault,” he informed the court.
“By now my chest was very, very constricted, I used to be drenched in sweat, I used to be dizzy, I sat for a short time longer.”
He mentioned he felt “claustrophobic” and crawled on his “arms and knees” down the steps and out of the constructing.
POLICE COMPLAINT
Police discovered him about half-hour later and informed him that they had obtained a criticism from the girl.
O’Keefe informed the court that he requested the officers whether or not he might make an announcement himself, however they “type of laughed” at him and mentioned “why would you do this?”.
Earlier this 12 months, footage was performed earlier than Justice of the Peace Alison Viney that confirmed O’Keefe sprawled out, complaining of chest ache.
Within the video, O’Keefe is heard groaning and complaining of getting one thing “chesty”.
“I’m undecided (what it’s) … I’ve by no means felt it earlier than,” he informed police.
When police strategy O’Keefe within the footage to ask questions, he’s seen shutting them down.
“I cannot make any feedback with no lawyer current … they’re making claims towards me that are false,” he informed police.
He was taken to hospital for the night time the place he was recognized with a respiratory tract an infection.
THE DRAMATIC ARREST
O’Keefe is accused of resisting an arrest two days after the alleged home assault.
A number of angles of bodycam footage captured by police throughout the arrest was performed to the court, exhibiting the second police knock on O’Keefe’s door at his CBD condo to inform him he’s being arrested for home assault and breaching an apprehended violence order.
Earlier than leaving with police, O’Keefe requested to get his treatment however he was refused.
“I’ll take my treatment that’s important … this occurred final time and also you guys didn’t take my treatment,” he mentioned within the footage.
O’Keefe begins to lift his voice as officers grasp his arms as he yells: “That is what occurs, I don’t have my treatment and get mad.”
He continued to scream: “This can be a easy favour, this can be a quite simple request, why are you being such f**king Nazis about it?”
The officers took O’Keefe into the hallway earlier than pushing him towards a wall and placing him into handcuffs.
“I want my treatment, you’re not going by means of my f**king stuff … you don’t even know the place it’s you idiots,” O’Keefe yells within the footage.
He’s then requested to relax however O’Keefe continues to scream, saying he was being arrested in a “f**king pointless vogue” as he’s led to the elevator and out of the constructing.
He’s put into the police van and informed to cease shifting.
“I hold shifting? It’s f**king onerous to not transfer while you’re a human being … This can be a justifiable and righteous rage to the best way I’m being handled,” he says within the video.
MEOW-MEOW
Police executed a search warrant at O’Keefe’s condo in January 2022, 4 months after his arrest.
Throughout this search, the court was informed police discovered a bag of artificial methamphetamine in a lockbox in his kitchen and he was subsequently charged with possess prohibited drug.
family pal of O’Keefe’s for 45 years, Daniel Mocsari, informed the court that when he came upon in regards to the cost days earlier than the listening to, he rapidly felt the necessity to confess.
“It was my stuff, not his,” Mr Mocsari informed the court.
Mr Mocsari is referring to meow-meow, an artificial stimulant drug consisting of mephedrone or 4-methylmethcathinone, which he described as “an analog of methamphetamine”.
He informed the court that he had gone to O’Keefe’s condo in December 2021 for “pre-Christmas drinks” and had taken the bag of drugs.
“I informed him (O’Keefe) I acquired these things …(O’Keefe) had a sniff and informed me he wouldn’t partake because the analogs have poor unintended effects with prescription treatment,” Mr Mocsari mentioned.
“He politely declined and gave it again.”
Mr Mocsari mentioned he left the bag on the kitchen counter, but it surely wasn’t there when he left the occasion.
Below questioning by Sergeant Cleaver, Mr Mocsari was requested why he left a “$350 bag” of drugs behind at a celebration.
Mr Mocsari mentioned: “I wasn’t that fussed.”
Sergeant Cleaver prompt he had come to court to provide false proof to guard his pal, O’Keefe.
“Completely not,” Mr Mocsari mentioned.
“I’ve simply come out of custody, I don’t need to have one other drug cost … I’ve an ethical compass.”
A LOOMING DECISION
After 4 full days of proof, Ms Viney will now take the following few months to make a decision.
She requested each the prosecution and defence to submit written submissions on what all of the proof proved and informed the events she deliberate to ship her judgment in late January.
