Former Norwood SANFL player Marc Oliver Cox released from prison to see dying dad

A former SANFL player and current amateur footballer stands accused of serious family violence charges. Now he’s free from prison to see his dying dad in an “unusual” move.

A former gun footballer who chalked up league games with Norwood and played with Gepps Cross this year is facing several serious family violence charges.

Marc Oliver Cox, of North Haven, on Wednesday appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court where he asked to be released on bail to see his dying father.

The court heard Mr Cox’s dad had been diagnosed with severe and aggressive cancer and given between one and two weeks to live, leading to an urgent application for bail.

Mr Cox was facing charges of indecent filming of a person older than 17, distributing invasive images, choking a person in a domestic setting, aggravated trespass and aggravated assault.

He had been in prison since July when he handed himself in.

Marc Oliver Cox faces several serious family violence charges. Picture: Facebook

Mr Cox, aged 39, was alleged to have committed the offences which led to the charges between December 1 last year and July 3 this year at Paracombe.

His last game for Gepps Cross was on July 2.

Before this year Mr Cox played for Fitzroy, Salisbury North, Payneham Norwood Union, Echunga, Freeling, Virginia, North Clare and Jervois football clubs.

In the mid-2000s he played league and reserve-level SANFL football with West Adelaide and Port Adelaide in addition to Norwood.

Given the seriousness of the charges, Mr Cox was a prescribed applicant for bail, meaning his lawyer, Stacey Carter, had to argue there were “special circumstances” that could see him released from prison.

Ms Carter said his father’s ill health was compounded with him mother’s Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis.

Magistrate Karim Soetratma said the imminent death of Mr Cox’s father was a “classic case of special circumstances”.

“I’m going to take an unusual position, that I appreciate and acknowledgingly freely is unusual and organise a bail agreement at this stage on which the defendant will be bailed,” he said.

Mr Cox was released on a $1000 bond and strict curfew and reporting conditions.

He will again appear in court next week where a home detention report will be delivered.