Prominent sports activities journalist Paul Kent has revealed how an argument over a wine bottle contributed to sparking explosive home violence allegations.
The rugby league presenter fronted Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday as he fights allegations he assaulted and choked his former associate.
Police allege the 53-year-old assaulted his then-girlfriend following a home disturbance at his residence in Lilyfield in Sydney’s inside west in May.
Taking the stand on Tuesday, Mr Kent advised the court docket he didn’t choke the lady, however admitted to a bodily “wrestle” over the game reporter’s cell phone.
Mr Kent stated he was writing a column in his workplace when he was alerted by his CCTV to the lady, who he had separated from the night time earlier than, getting into his yard.
Confronting her within the hallway, Mr Kent stated the lady demanded to see his cellphone “for answers” after calling him “too gutless” to reply her texts.
Mr Kent advised the court docket he stated to the lady that “nothing was going on” and ordered her to go away the house, earlier than she snatched his cellphone from his desk.
A bodily scuff ensued between the pair in response to Mr Kent, who lifted the lady as much as spin her round and tried to jerk the cellphone from her arms.
After ending on the ground whereas wrestling for the cellphone, Mr Kent stated the lady accused him of choking and assaulting her and stated she would name police.
Under cross examination, Mr Kent was grilled by the prosecutor on the pair’s on once more, off once more relationship he described as being “categorised by mistrust”.
The Daily Telegraph and Fox Sports host advised the court docket he believed the pair had largely separated earlier than she referred to as him the day earlier than the alleged incident.
“She asked if she could come around for a hug. I said: ‘I don’t think that’s a good idea’ … we continued to talk and she cried a little harder,” Mr Kent stated.
The Fox host stated he relented and advised the lady to come back over, earlier than the pair had intercourse. Afterwards, he stated she turned outraged after opening the fridge.
“She saw a bottle of prosecco in the fridge. She said: ‘whose the fuck is this?’ I had no idea … I said: ‘What are you talking about’,” Mr Kent stated.
Mr Kent stated he invited over workers from a close-by resort to his residence the earlier Saturday, however had forgotten the wine bottle from an earlier event.
After disclosing to the lady the names of who had come to the home, Mr Kent stated he determined to finish the connection, stating: “I’ve had enough”.
“This shows me it (the relationship) is not going to work. I’m done. I want you to leave. I know we’ve done this before, but this is it. We’re done,” he stated.
Mr Kent stated he felt “relief” after the break up, and proceeded to disregard textual content messages and cellphone calls from the lady into the late night.
The court docket was advised Mr Kent had additionally advised the lady they “were done” in March, earlier than she stayed over at his residence once more in April 2023.
Mr Kent additionally advised the court docket of a previous argument in August 2022 when he stated the lady fled down the road along with his cellphone following an argument.
The sports activities reporter additional gave proof that after his arrest and whereas awaiting transportation to the police station, an officer advised him the lady’s “case is weak”.
“At one point an officer opened the door and said: ‘I can’t give you any legal advice, but when they get you to the station they will ask you three things,’’ he said.
“They will ask: whether you want to be interviewed, say no; Whether you choked her, say no. They’ll also ask you if you assaulted her, say no.’
“If you say no to all three of those things they will probably let you go because her (the woman’s) case is weak’. After that, I said ‘Thank you’.”
During the second and ultimate day of hearings, the court docket additionally heard proof from a physiotherapist who reported “yellowish” bruising across the lady’s neck.
“There was evidence of trauma given the yellowish bruising and swelling and physical neck presentation of reduced range of motion,” physio Stuart McKay stated.
“My conclusion was the injury was the result of trauma to the neck. Whether that is strangulation, I cannot say. But, it was consistent with trauma to the neck.”
On Monday, the court docket was proven body-worn footage of each Mr Kent and the lady, who advised officers the Fox host had his arms “around her throat”.
“I didn’t expect this to happen. I don’t want to ruin his life … He has done this before and I have given him a second chance,” the lady stated.
Mr Kent claimed woke to an alert on his CCTV that the lady had entered his residence via the backdoor after the pair separated the night time earlier than.
“I didn’t hit her. I didn’t strike her … She wasn’t in danger … The only time I touched her was to try and get my phone back,” Mr Kent stated.
He went on to accuse the lady, who has not been named, of threatening previously to name police, which could affect his employment.
During the footage, a person who recognized himself as Mr Kent’s “boss at Fox Sports” arrived and spoke with officers current on the scene.
Mr Kent was arrested on the scene earlier than being taken to a close-by police station and charged with widespread assault and choking an individual with out consent.
A 3rd cost of assault occasioning precise bodily hurt was added by police in November. Mr Kent has pleaded not responsible to all three costs.
Source web site: www.foxsports.com.au
