Hold up in ex-NRL star Chris Sandow’s third bail application for alleged police assault

Ex-Parramatta Eels star Chris Sandow had high hopes of walking free today, but had his head in his hands as his third attempt at bail veered drastically off course.

Chris Sandow of the Eels during the Penrith Panthers v Parramatta Eels at Pepper Stadium, Penrith. Picture: Mark Evans

A former NRL coach has lent his support to Dally M medallist Chris Sandow as he makes a third bid for bail.

2003 Premiership-winning coach John Lang provided a character reference for Christopher Carl Gene Sandow, 33, who appeared via video link in Ipswich Magistrates Court today (December 16) for his third bail application.

The ex-Parramatta Eels star has spent almost four months in custody on remand for a string of charges including seriously assaulting a police officer causing bodily harm and seriously assaulting a police officer or person acting in aid of a police officer.

It is alleged police attended Mr Sandow’s East Ipswich home on August 28, 2022, and that he assaulted officer Taleah Kay Doyle, causing bodily harm, and assaulted another man at the scene, Andrew Norman Goulding.

After reviewing body-worn camera footage of the alleged assaults, Mr Sandow’s defence lawyer Paddy O’Donnell told the court in October Sandow would be pleading ‘not guilty’ to the two police assault charges.

Mr Sandow is currently scheduled for trial on February 9, 2023, but has been remanded in custody since the end of August.

He was denied bail initially, and denied once again in September – but Mr O’Donnell told the court today (December 16) there were good reasons his client deserved a third shot.

Police prosecutor Brad Dick said the prosecution still opposed bail for the same reason as on the earlier occasions: that Mr Sandow still posed an unacceptable risk of reoffending.

Mr O’Donnell started by tendering a reference from Mr Lang, Mr Sandow’s former Rabbitohs coach, which voiced his support for the “powerful role model”.

Coach John Lang talks to Chris Sandow during a South Sydney Rabbitohs NRL team training session at Redfern Oval in Sydney, March 23, 2011. Picture: Gregg Porteous

He also tendered a statement from South Sydney Rabbitohs Chief Medical Officer Andrew McDonald that noted a particular head knock Mr Sandow endured in a 2011 game, along with the potential for players to suffer ongoing medical difficulties as a result of such head knocks.

Mr O’Donnell emphasised that Mr Sandow had concerns about head knocks he had suffered throughout his NRL career, but Magistrate Robert Walker said he couldn’t accept “speculation about concussive injuries” as a reason for bail.

Mr O’Donnell said a spot had also opened up for Mr Sandow at The Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Corporation for Alcohol & Drug Dependence Service (QAIAS) since the last bail application.

He said Mr Sandow had had “issues with drugs” since his “playing days”, and that a proposed 13-week rehabilitation program at QAIAS would provide him with necessary assistance he wouldn’t have access to in custody.

Finally, Mr O’Donnell said there had been some delays in the court proceedings, and that Mr Sandow would have to serve almost six months before his trial if denied bail again.

Mr Walker suggested the delays were caused by Mr Sandow choosing to plead ‘not guilty’ to the police assault charges – despite previously signing his intention to plead ‘guilty’.

He further noted that if Mr Sandow was convicted, the court would have to consider activating Mr Sandow’s previous 15-month suspended sentence for assault occasioning bodily harm, which was dealt with in November, 2021.

Mr Walker concluded it was reasonable to expect Mr Sandow might be required to serve at least six months in that case.

He accepted the possibility Sandow could ultimately succeed with his not-guilty plea, but said “I’ve got to assess the evidence and it appears strong, Mr O’Donnell – let’s put it that way”.

Mr Walker said there may be grounds for bail, however, based on the new spot opening up at QAIAS, but said there was nothing in the material that actually outlined the 13-week program Mr Sandow would be undertaking and how it would be of aid.

The matter was adjourned until later in the day for Mr O’Donnell to obtain that information.

Mr Sandow, who appeared via video link, was visibly frustrated by the adjournment, bowing his head to the table with his hands clenched together.

When the matter resumed, Mr Walker was still unsatisfied with the information provided about the 13-week rehabilitation program, and ultimately adjourned the bail application until December 22 for Mr O’Donnell to prepare the necessary documentation.

Mr Sandow had his head in his hands as Mr Walker spoke and cursed under his breath at times.