‘Devastated his family’: Sydney brain surgeon not guilty of assaulting wife
Top Sydney brain surgeon Dr Timothy Steel has been cleared of bashing his wife, who alleged he was having an affair with his secretary, in a case his lawyer says has “devastated his family.”
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A world-renowned Sydney brain surgeon wants to get back to work after being cleared of beating his wife, who also accused him off financial abuse, saying: “If I don‘t do as he says, he doesn’t pay me.”
St Vincent’s Hospital head of neurosurgery Dr Timothy Steel was accused of drunkenly punching and kicking his wife Emma before ripping out her hair extensions at the couple’s luxurious eastern suburbs home last year.
But on Thursday a Downing Centre Local Court magistrate dismissed the 56-year-old’s charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, common assault and property damage.
Magistrate Vivien Swain found there were inconsistencies in the former model’s version of events, ruling that Dr Steel had acted in self defence.
“I’ve also taken into account the character of the accused,” she said.
The millionaire doctor’s lawyer said there are no winners because the scandal has “devastated his family.”
“His wife was not found to be a credible witness and of course Dr Steel was. He’s maintained his innocence and fortunately today justice was delivered,” Paul McGirr said outside court.
“He just looks forward to getting back to do what he does best as one of Australia’s top brain and spinal surgeons.”
The court heard that Mrs Steel told police she was “petrified” when her husband turned violent after returning home drunk from his work Christmas party at 6am on December 14.
But Dr Steel, who was suspended from practising when the allegations came to light in February, claimed he was attacked in his bed by his furious partner who suspected he was cheating with his secretary.
The now separated ex-lovers had been struggling over Mrs Steel’s mobile phone, and in police interview footage, the visibly shaken woman claimed it contained pictures of injuries from his previous assaults.
The 41-year-old mother said her partner tried to destroy the evidence by submerging it in the pool of their sprawling Bellevue Hill home, but Dr Steel insisted he jumped in the pool to get away from her.
Mr McGirr said the high-profile doctor was forced to push his screaming wife away after she leapt onto him while he slept and “clawed his face.”
The magistrate accepted this, stating: “I’m not satisfied the accused punched or slapped the complainant.”
During the hearing Mr McGirr asked Mrs Steel if she became enraged after finding out – through accessing an iPad synched with her husband’s phone – that Dr Steel had just been in a hotel room with two female colleagues.
“I wasn’t angry, I already knew there was an affair going on,” she said during fiery cross-examination.
But Dr Steel and his receptionist Angie Turner both denied they were in a romantic relationship while giving evidence.
Mrs Steel also claimed she was the victim of “financial abuse” by the doctor, despite him paying her a minimum $20,000 monthly allowance.
“If I don‘t do as he says he doesn’t pay me,” Mrs Steel said in police body-worn camera footage.
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Mr McGirr argued Mrs Steel was a money-hungry narcissist who tried to “sully my client’s reputation” to get her way, and even concocted a lie that the doctor snorted cocaine.
Mrs Steel told police she confronted her intoxicated husband of 11 years when he got home because the couple had planned a lunch with their neighbours at Rose Bay institution Catalina later that day, and she was trying to rouse him.
When police arrived on the scene she rushed outside crying, while Dr Steel stood at the door wearing only a white towel wrapped around his waist, an officer’s statement shows.
Mrs Steel said she told her husband “I know where you were last night”, when he suddenly punched her in the face and ripped out her hair extensions.
“He kicks me, he’s pushing me. I fell on the floor a few times. I was calling out for help,” she said in the police footage.
Photos of Mrs Steel’s injuries revealed bruises to her cheek and a bloodied mouth, while Dr Steel had scratch marks on his arms, neck and back.
An image of torn, lacy red underwear was also tendered.
Mrs Steel insisted the doctor, who earns up to six million dollars annually, withheld cash from her as a form of control, adding: “I’m petrified because of the ongoing abuse.”
But the magistrate was not satisfied that Mrs Steel’s accusations were proven, noting bank account statements had been tendered.
“He’s told me he wants to get rid of me. He’s told me if I don’t sign the post-nup (sic) our marriage is over,” Mrs Steel told police.
Ms Swain also dismissed Mrs Steel’s application for a restraining order against her estranged partner, noting any apprehended violence order she granted “must be based on reasonable grounds.”
Originally published as ‘Devastated his family’: Sydney brain surgeon not guilty of assaulting wife