Michael Slater refused bail despite 130 days in custody, proposal to move, enter rehab

Australian cricketing legend Michael Slater has been refused bail on serious domestic violence allegations, after it was found he posed an unacceptable risk of further offending.

Michael Slater has already spent 130 days in custody. Picture: Patrick Woods

Australian cricketing legend Michael Slater has been refused bail on serious domestic violence allegations, that could carry a head sentence of three years jail if convicted, despite signalling he would move to NSW and attend an exclusive beach side rehab centre frequented by celebrities.

The former international cricketer and television commentator is facing 25 charges including two counts of strangulation in a domestic setting, stalking, burglary by break at night, five common assaults and an assault occasioning bodily harm all of which are alleged domestic violence offences.

The bulk of offences are alleged to have occurred between December and April in the Noosa area and Slater has been in custody for 130 days.

Defence barrister Greg McGuire said Slater, who is contesting the choking allegations, was a “well known Australian personality” who suffered from a number of mental health issues and alcohol abuse.

Former Australian Batsman Michael Slater pictured at The Gabba on November 22, 2013. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

“He was clearly in the grip of a terrible alcohol addiction,” Mr McGuire said.

“One could expect … a head sentence in the order of two to three years if he were to be convicted of the two chokings.

“They don’t appear to be bad examples of it. She didn’t have to seek medical treatment for it, there’s no suggestion of loss of consciousness and obviously she kept going back to the premises.”

Mr McGuire said Slater had already served 4.5 months in custody and a trial would not be expected to start until mid 2025 meaning his client was “in real danger” of serving too much time if convicted.

His proposed bail conditions included no alcohol, no contact with the complainant and moving to country NSW to live with his sister.

Prior to that however he would attend the private mental health hospital The Sydney Clinic in the beach enclave of Bronte in the city’s eastern suburbs and he would stay there until staff were satisfied he could leave, the court heard.

Michael Slater commentating before the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 warm-up match between Bangladesh and India at Cardiff, Wales on May 28, 2019. Picture: Stu Forster-ICC/ICC via Getty Images

The clinic’s previous clients include Packed to the Rafters star Jessica Marais, Ben Cousins and Andrew O’Keefe.

Justice Paul Freeburn queried how he could have any confidence Slater, who is also charged with one count of breaching bail, would abide by the conditions.

“They obviously were in a completely dysfunctional, abuse of alcohol relationship. If they were to continue in a relationship one could feel confident the offending would probably continue. But there has been a significant severance in that now by his incarceration.

“He now realises he can’t have any contact with her … and he’s proposing to move to NSW. If he breaches it he will pay the consequences for that.”

The application for bail was opposed by Aden Tranent from the DPP who said the court could have no confidence that Slater’s alleged offending would cease.

“The applicant has a history in NSW of committing domestic violence offences against his partner. He was sentenced for that and whilst subject to that sentence has come to Queensland engaged in another relationship with another woman and continues to commit acts of domestic violence,” he alleged.

In November 2022 Slater was sentenced to two years imprisonment, served in the community via a corrections order, in NSW for domestic violence related offending the court heard.

IN the current alleged offending Slater is accused of placing two hands around a woman’s neck and strangling and shaking her at his home in December, the court heard.

In March he attended the woman’s home and allegedly “began to barrage the complainant with abusive and degrading language”, the court heard.

Justice Freeburn said it was alleged Slater forcibly grabbed her by the arms and jolted her backwards.

A few days later Slater is accused of sending her a large number of abusive text messages and when the woman went to the police station a security camera alert on her phone allegedly showed him at her address.

The court heard Slater had a long history of mental health conditions including ADHD, major depression, insomnia, alcohol abuse disorder and borderline personality disorder.

Justice Freeburn said the allegations were “sustained and persistent”.

He refused bail finding Slater, 54, had not shown cause as to why his further detention was not justified.

He said Slater’s 130 days of pre-sentence custody would ordinarily make a bail application “compelling” however he found the defendant posed an unacceptable risk of further offending.

Slater is back in court for a mention on September 20.