Nicky Winmar fronts Melbourne Magistrates Court over assault charges
AFL legend Nicky Winmar fronted Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday over assault charges, with the prosecution proposing to join his case with another he’s facing in the state’s north.
Two separate criminal cases against AFL legend Nicky Winmar could be joined to prove he allegedly has a tendency to be violent.
The 60-year-old former St Kilda player fronted Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday charged over an assault on a female on July 18.
It is alleged he choked, strangled or suffocated the woman, who the court heard he had been in a “very short-term relationship” with.
But the prosecution told magistrate Leon Fluxman they would apply to have the case be joined with another that Winmar is facing at Kerang Magistrates Court to argue he has a tendency to act in a particular manner.
In the other case, he is charged with assaulting another woman at Cohuna in the state’s north two months earlier on May 14.
Charge sheets allege the AFL Hall of Fame inductee dragged the complainant by the hair and twisted her arm.
Winmar’s barrister Dermot Dann, KC, said they would be opposing the tendency argument.
He was critical of the prosecution for proposing the joiner at this point in time, in effect, causing delays to his client’s case.
When the prosecution asked to have until January to file their tendency notice, Mr Dann pushed back, saying it should be done next month.
“They’ve had four months to organise their case,” Mr Dann said.
“I’m not sure why they need another two months to come up with tendency notice.
“There’s another brief already prepared. It can’t be that hard.”
Ultimately, the magistrate set down a hearing for tendency argument on January 20.
Winmar also had his bail varied to remove a condition that he continue to take part in the court integrated services program (CISP).
In July, he was placed on the program, which aims to reduce reoffending by connecting accused people with services for drug and alcohol issues, crisis accommodation, disability, mental health, and Koori-specific support.
Mr Dann said Winmar had participated in the four-month program “successfully and very well” and it was now complete.
Winmar played more than 200 games across 12 seasons with St Kilda between 1987 and 1998, twice winning the club’s best and fairest award.
He also played 21 games with the Western Bulldogs.
Winmar was given permission to appear at the January hearing via videolink after Mr Dann argued it was only for legal argument and that it “is difficult” for his client as “there is a lot of attention given to his attendance”.
Originally published as Nicky Winmar fronts Melbourne Magistrates Court over assault charges
