Elizabeth Buttrose faces court over drink-driving

THE troubled niece of Ita Buttrose consumed a cocktail of Valium, prescription medication and wine before driving home following a bust-up with her fiance Zoran Stopar, a court has heard.

Lizzie Buttrose arrives at The Downing Centre in Sydney yesterday. Picture: Jenny Evans

THE troubled niece of Ita Buttrose consumed a cocktail of Valium, prescription medication and wine at her GP’s Vaucluse home before driving home following a bust-up with her fiance Zoran Stopar, a court heard on Friday.

Elizabeth “Lizzie” Buttrose, 48, was seen driving back to her house by police, who had only moments before attended her plush eastern suburbs home after she had posted “Help me” on Facebook.

Buttrose appeared before Downing Centre Local Court on Friday for her sentencing hearing after she pleaded guilty in October to high-range drink driving, resisting arrest and behaving in an offensive manner in public.

Lizzie Buttrose leaves Waverley Courthouse with Zoran Stopar earlier this year after pleading not guilty to allegedly threatening her son over him giving evidence in a court case. The son has since dropped the charges and the case was dismissed.

Defence barrister Lisa-Claire Hutchinson told the court: “She told police she had drunk three standard glasses of wine at the GP’s private residence in Vaucluse.

“She also made admission to Dr Atherton (her psychologist) that she was intoxicated not only by alcohol but also Valium and prescription medication at the time.”

Reading from the statement of facts Magistrate Clare Farnan said Buttrose was spotted by police driving along Hopetoun Ave in Vaucluse with her two dogs in the car about 10.50pm after they had responded to her Facebook post.

“They followed her and saw her park and then get out. She went inside the home and then came back out and entered the car, sitting in driver’s side. She closed the door and started the engine and, when police approached, refused to open the door or window when directed,” Magistrate Farnan said.

“Police were ultimately able to execute their duty after she opened the window a small amount, and removed her from the vehicle.

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“There was some behaviour resulting in violence and not limited to language.”

When Buttrose took a roadside breath test she blew .214.

Yesterday she was convicted of hindering police and offensive behaviour, and handed an 18-month good behaviour bond.

But her drink-driving matter was adjourned to next week after Magistrate Farnan disputed whether it should be considered a first or second offence following her conviction and sentencing earlier this year on a low-range drink-driving charge.

Buttrose has launched an appeal against the severity of that sentence, and both the police prosecutor and Ms Hutchinson thought the earlier conviction had to be ignored until the outcome of the appeal had been determined.

Magistrate Farnham questioned this: “I have a real problem that you can be convicted of drink-driving and then lodge an appeal then you are caught drink-driving again and it can still be a first offence.

“I don’t think that is the law. It is a very unusual situation. Most people awaiting their drink-driving appeals don’t get caught again drink-driving. This is something that needs to be resolved.”

If treated as a second offence Buttrose faces a maximum penalty of two years in jail and automatic five-year disqualification.