Child allegedly hit, kicked, dragged by hair, called ‘disrespectful c**t’ by ex-MKR star, court told

A court has been told of the alleged horrific abuse a former MKR star inflicted on a child, including an alleged attack over a tomato sauce dispute.

A My Kitchen Rules star allegedly subjected a child to a torrent of vile abuse – including an occasion where he allegedly dragged and choked her over a dispute about tomato sauce.

Anthony Michael Mu pleaded not guilty to seven charges, including assault occasioning bodily harm, common assault and observations in breach of privacy, at the start of his hearing at Richlands Magistrates Court on Monday.

While listed for a single day, the summary trial was adjourned until October due to scheduling conflicts at the court.

At least four other witnesses are due to give evidence.

Members of Mr Mu’s family and a large group of supporters packed out the courtroom - some at times appearing to make remarks and at from the public gallery as witnesses gave their evidence.

Severalturned up wearing badges that read “False allegations destroy lives”.

Mr Mu and his wife, Claudean Uamaki-Mu, both appeared on the Channel 7 reality cooking show in 2023 and were promoted as “married battlers”, “a fiery Italian and a super chill Samoan with hearts of gold.”

Anthony Michael Mu has pleaded not guilty to seven charges, including assault occasioning bodily harm, common assault and observations in breach of privacy. Picture: NewsWire/ Glenn Campbell

Claudean Uamaki-Mu attended court in support of her husband on Monday. Picture: NewsWire/ Glenn Campbell

The pair have been in and out of court for more than a year on abuse-related allegations, with Ms Uamaki-Mu pleading guilty to six charges of common assault in May.

She walked from court with no convictions recorded, along with a 12-month good behaviour bond and $1000 recognisance.

On the first day of Mr Mu’s trial, a woman – who cannot be named for legal reasons – told the court about several assaults she alleged Mr Mu subjected her to years ago.

At the time, she was a child under the age of 18.

One allegedly involved her being beaten with a metal spatula on her hands, arm and knuckles.

On another occasion, the woman said she was allegedly “tackled” through a wall by Mr Mu after she “rolled her eyes” at him and was set upon by Mr Mu during a birthday party before allegedly being pushed down stairs.

At work the next week, the woman said a co-worker noticed one of her bruises.

“She asked if she could take photos of the bruises. I was really scared and nervous and said no,” the woman said.

Mr Mu is alleged to have assaulted a child on several occasions. Picture: NewsWire/ Glenn Campbell

The woman said that when she was an adult, Mr Mu went to get McDonald’s for dinner.

The court was told the woman “sighed” after Mr Mu said he forgot her tomato sauce for her meal, leading to him getting “irate” and calling her a “disrespectful c**t”.

Mr Mu allegedly threw a burger at the back of her head, grabbed her hair and screamed at her to “get the f**k up”.

“I couldn’t quite stand because he had the back of my hair in his hands. I slipped and fell … he dragged me by my hair,” she said.

“I believe he was still calling me a ‘disrespectful c**t’.”

The woman said she felt her hair was being pulled out but did not see any clumps of hair on the floor, aside from feeling “a lot of pain”.

“I remember he pulled me up to my feet by my hair. He then choked me on the wall,” she continued.

“I was hyperventilating when this was happening.

“It was no more than 30 seconds to a minute.”

The court was told the woman was too scared to report the alleged abuses to police.

During cross-examination by defence barrister Stephen Kissick, the woman denied that she was lying about the alleged assaults for either publicity or financial gain.

Mr Mu’s barrister Stephen Kissick questioned the witness whether she was lying about the alleged assaults taking place, but the woman rejected this question. Picture: NewsWire/ Glenn Campbell

Mr Kissick asked if she had been “reminded” about the alleged abuse during conversations with people she was still in touch with.

“No, we didn’t need reminding,” the woman said.

She rejected suggestions that she had been laughing and joking about the allegations before appearing teary and “hyperventilating” when she went to visit police.

Mr Kissick put to the woman the allegations in her statement were a “complete game” against Mr Mu and Ms Uamaki-Mu, but the woman rejected this.

Mr Kissick asked her: “You’re prepared to say anything against these people, aren’t you?”

The woman replied: “No, only the truth.”

The trial will resume in October. Mr Mu remains on bail.

Originally published as Child allegedly hit, kicked, dragged by hair, called ‘disrespectful c**t’ by ex-MKR star, court told