Holmes St Clair director Sean Colin St Clair appeals domestic violence conviction in court
A Sydney real estate director found guilty of backhanding his former partner across the face then continuing to assault her after she squirted barbecue sauce on him during a holiday, is appealing his conviction in court.
NSW
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A Sydney real estate director found guilty of backhanding his former partner across the face then continuing to assault her after she squirted barbecue sauce on him during a holiday, is appealing his conviction in court.
Sean Colin St Clair, 42, of Riverview, was convicted and sentenced for common assault at the Wyong Local Court on May 16, this year, in relation to an incident at Hawks Nest on November 21, 2023.
Earlier this year, St Clair was found guilty by Magistrate Justin Peach of assaulting his former partner at a holiday rental unit.
He was ultimately convicted and sentenced to an 18-month intensive corrections order.
In his judgment, Mr Peach said the prosecution’s case was that St Clair was involved in an argument with his then wife.
It was alleged St Clair backhanded her to the face after she squirted him with barbecue sauce, then punched her in the face, before following her to the bedroom where he continued to strike her multiple times while she was on the floor.
The defence argued the events did not occur.
In delivering his finding of guilt, Mr Peach said the case was not about whose evidence he preferred, but whether the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
The victim told the court St Clair had come home drunk from the pub and later began berating her and calling her names.
She said she squirted sauce on St Clair, and in response, he backhanded her to the jaw.
She alleged he then punched her in the face, causing her nose to bleed.
While on the floor, she said St Clair struck her a number of times to the body, though she could not recall whether she was punched or kicked.
She told the court that while he was hitting her, St Clair said: “You ruined my life.”
According to court documents, St Clair appealed the sentence on the grounds that the penalty was too severe and that he was not guilty.
Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) records list St Clair as a director of the Sydney-based real estate business Holmes St Clair.
According to his professional profile, St Clair was a finalist for “Property Marketer of the Year” in 2016 with the Real Estate Institute of NSW.
His profile also states that he has been instrumental in the successful sale of more than 350 properties, with over $250 million in sales, a 96 per cent clearance rate and an average of 26 days on market.
St Clair fronted the District Court on Monday for the first mention of the matter and will return to court in November for a hearing to appeal his conviction.
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Originally published as Holmes St Clair director Sean Colin St Clair appeals domestic violence conviction in court
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