Popstar’s fight with ill neighbour takes a dramatic twist
The pop star was slammed in court by the defence during a fiery legal fight with his ill neighbour.
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Police will withdraw an application to suppress Guy Sebastian’s evidence during a fiery legal fight with his ill neighbour - just days after it was slammed in court by the lawyers for the defence.
The pop star is in court after his neighbour Phillip Richard Hanslow allegedly threatened to kill him during a heated escalation of a long-running feud over their shared fence.
Police prosecutor Alex Borg asked for the gag order in Waverley Court on March 30 after claiming that the musician had been subjected to “trial by media”.
“The application is made on the basis of prejudice to the administration of justice,” he said at the time.
“There have been articles in the media where Mr Sebastian has been made out to be the bad guy.”
Mr Borg said the ARIA winning artist has been unwilling to attend court because he “feels like he’s being portrayed to be the villain”.
The lawyer for Mr Hanslow’s neighbour Bryan Wrench ridiculed the application after noting the musician had proactively spoken to the media about the legal battle.
“Mr Sebastian has done four interviews talking about this court case in the media, so it’s a bit hypocritical to say he doesn’t want to have this case in the public eye,” he said.
“My client’s reputation has been damaged and he’s been sullied by the case as well.”
The application was expected to be ventilated on Wednesday with opposition from Mr Wrench and interested media parties.
However, Mr Borg confirmed the application for the suppression order will be withdrawn on Wednesday.
Mr Hanslow is charged with intimidating his famous neighbour outside their homes in Maroubra around 1.30pm on January 23.
The court was previously told the argument erupted over damage to the shared fence, which has since been repaired.
Mr Hanslow told reporters he was on the toilet when police arrested him and charged him with stalking with intent to cause physical harm and damaging property.
The 66-year-old told the court he underwent bowel surgery not long after he was arrested.
His alleged death threats are believed to be the fiery culmination of six years of tensions between the neighbours, which began in 2016 when Mr Sebastian and his wife Jules were building their home.
The couple bought their $3.1m home in Maroubra in 2013 and spent nearly three years overhauling it to create their “fortress-like” house.
Originally published as Popstar’s fight with ill neighbour takes a dramatic twist
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