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Sam Ball’s ex fronts court accused of stalking Married At First Sight star

Married At First Sight ‘love rat’ Sam Ball’s ex-lover has fronted court for the first time since being charged with stalking the reality TV star — as her lawyer declared there were “two sides to every story”.

Nadia Tabbaa outside Newtown Local Court

Married At First Sight contestant Sam Ball’s ex-lover has fronted court for the first time since being charged with stalking the reality TV star — as her lawyer declared there were “two sides to every story”.

Akila Ahmunett, 30, who is also known as Nadia Tabbaa, walked into Newtown Local Court on Monday morning accompanied by a female friend.

Akila Ahmunett fronted court this morning. Picture: John Grainger
Akila Ahmunett fronted court this morning. Picture: John Grainger

The Russell Lea woman was charged with stalking and intimidation with intention to cause fear or physical harm, using a mobile phone, email and social media to ­menace and harass, and two counts of unlawfully entering Ball’s Alexandria home earlier this month.

One of the unlawful entry charges was withdrawn at court on Monday.

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Ball had previously provided two statements to police, the court heard.

But Ahmunett’s lawyer Geoff Harrison said he now had a third statement from Ball, 26, which had been served on the prosecution.

“We’re making representations to police in terms of them considering their position as to where they are at with the charges, as I’ve said there is more than one side to every story,” he said after the brief mention.

Akila Ahmunett is accused of stalking Sam Ball. Picture: John Grainger
Akila Ahmunett is accused of stalking Sam Ball. Picture: John Grainger
Married At First Sight star Sam Ball. Picture: Damian Shaw
Married At First Sight star Sam Ball. Picture: Damian Shaw

Mr Harrison told the court his client intended to plead not guilty if police continued with the charges.

Ball called police at 2am on February 22 when he allegedly discovered the door to his flat in Alexandria, in the inner city, had been opened.

It is alleged police, who entered the premises first, found Ahmunett ­inside.

She was allegedly involved in a confrontation with Ball before being taken to Newtown police station where the charges were laid.

The incident is allegedly the culmination of a string of bizarre behaviour by ­Ahmunett after Ball broke off their on-again, off-again ­relationship.

Akila Ahmunett was found inside Ball’s flat.
Akila Ahmunett was found inside Ball’s flat.

Ball was first in contact with police about alleged “domestic abuse” on February 4, after a heated argument ­with Ahmunett.

He contacted them again on February 21 to apply for an apprehended violence order, claiming she was stalking him and had swamped him with a barrage of text messages, calls and emails.

He also accused her of taking his mobile phone and vetting his friends on social media, ­deleting any females.

Court documents say that she stalked and harassed him between 6pm and 11pm on 21 February.

She is then accused of unlawfully entering his home between 1.50am and 2.20am on February 22.

Ball, a tradie who is the breakout star of the high-rating Channel 9 reality series, reportedly started dating ­Ahmunett in November after filming ended.

As Ahmunett has now been issued with the AVO it prevents her talking to the media about her relationship.

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She was at the centre of her own TV drama last year when she appeared on 60 Minutes claiming that her parents had allowed her to be kidnapped and married off to a Syrian cousin 15 years her senior.

Her parents sued the network for defamation but lost.

Ahmunett has since undergone surgery to drastically change her looks and is now almost unrecognisable.

A police statement about the allegations said: “On Monday 4 February 2019, a 26-year-old man contacted police about an alleged ­domestic incident involving a 30-year-old woman.

“About 2am on Friday 22 February 2019, police were called to an Alexandria home, where they located a 26-year-old man and arrested a 30-year-old woman.

“The woman was taken to Newtown Police Station where she was charged with stalk/intimidate intend fear physical etc harm, use carriage service to menace/harass/­offend, and enter prescribed premises of any person without lawful excuse.”

The interim AVO will continue until the matter returns to Downing Centre Local Court on April 15.

Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/sam-balls-ex-fronts-court-accused-of-stalking-married-at-first-sight-star/news-story/2d52ea1b21d8bfb19a18170ba45d83b0