Deborah Hutton’s former partner wants charges dealt with on mental health grounds
A court has heard Deborah Hutton’s ex blamed a break-in at her multimillion-dollar home on a burglar making “meow” sounds as he attempts to have charges dealt with on mental health grounds.
The former partner of TV and modelling legend Deborah Hutton allegedly planted a rape kit at her multimillion-dollar eastern suburbs home and blamed it on a burglar making “meow” sounds, a court has heard.
Robert Dulhunty is attempting to have his multiple charges, including stalk/intimidate and making a false call to emergency services, dealt with on mental health grounds, after allegedly planting a baton, ropes and a plum jam jar at Ms Hutton’s home early on August 8.
He called triple-zero to report a robbery.
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Police arrived to find the bizarre list of items and began investigating a break in, before evidence allegedly led them back to Dulhunty.
Police prosecutor Chris Davis said Dulhunty wanted to “scare the living daylights out of” Ms Hutton in a desperate bid to stop her kicking him out of the Bronte “mansion”, which property records show she bought for $3.8 million in 2015.
“The premeditated planning, the purchasing of the rape kit, I say is at the high end of offending,” Mr Davis said.
“The relationship was on the rocks ... he was being forced out of those premises so he’s gone out and purchased the kit.”
He said the matter was “too serious” to be dealt with under the mental health act.
Between three psychologists reports, Dulhunty was described as a narcissistic, depressive man with signs of autism.
His lawyer Bryan Wrench said Dulhunty was on large amounts of prescription medication and “pharmacy shopping” for more at the time of the offences.
“This is really a vivisection of Robert Dulhunty to find out everything about him ... No rational person would engage in this conduct,” Mr Wrench said.
He said Dulhunty told police he heard “meow” sounds during the break-in, before he confronted the robber who ran off.
The court heard Ms Hutton described Dulhunty as an “eccentric fellow and good bloke” who had recently become “paranoid and agitated”.
“She wants Robert to get treatment because she saw something that she’s never seen before,” he said.
The court also heard the former couple signed a pre-nuptial agreement before their six-and-a-half year relationship.
Magistrate Lisa Stapleton is expected to rule on the application to have the charges dealt with under the mental health act this afternoon.
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