Shaun Kenny-Dowall: Jessica Peris made me aware she may have been cheating on me

NRL star Shaun Kenny-Dowall took former partner Jessica Peris’ phone before he allegedly assaulted her to find “evidence” she had cheated on him, a court has heard.

• ‘He walked towards me with his fist clenched’
• Jessica Peris sent Roosters star explicit text messages

NRL star Shaun Kenny-Dowall took former partner Jessica Peris’ phone before he allegedly assaulted her to find “evidence” she had cheated on him, a court has heard today.

In the final day of the hearing, the Downing Centre Local Court heard the Kiwi international — who is defending 11 domestic violence charges — was a controlling and jealous partner.

The Sydney Roosters star is accused of putting Ms Peris in a headlock, head-butting and kicking her among seven assault charges from October, 2014 to June, 2015.

Jessica Peris arrives at The Downing Centre District Court today. Picture: Cameron Richardson

He denies he ever assaulted the daughter of Senator Nova Peris but admitted he did grip her arm tightly during an argument in October, 2014.

The 28-year-old said he took her mobile into an ensuite bathroom for a few minutes to find “evidence” of the infidelity.

“She made me aware she may have been cheating on me,” he told the court.

Police Prosecutor Amin Assaad put it to him he did not find any evidence. He said the couple had been arguing about their previous partners not Peris’ infidelity.

But Kenny-Dowall claimed “there was” evidence.

Mr Assaad asked Kenny-Dowall why he simply did not walk out of the bedroom instead of grabbing Peris, who he outweighed by more than 50kg, to which he replied: “She was attacking me.”

NRL footballer Shaun Kenny-Dowall today. Picture: Cameron Richardson

Kenny-Dowall told the court he did not recall or denied propositions put to him dozens of times including if he met with Roosters CEO Brian Canavan when Peris sent the club a letter.

He also denied lawyers from the Roosters met with Peris’ lawyer to offer his Range Rover and $15,000.

The court had previously heard of abusive text messages Peris had sent to Kenny-Dowall.

Today, the court heard some of the messages he sent to her.

In a series of text messages Kenny-Dowall allegedly called Peris a “fa**ot”, a “f**kead” and a “f*** c***”.

The former couple when they were on holidays together.

Mr Assaad painted a picture of Kenny-Dowall being a controlling and jealous spouse, referring to a request Peris remove a photo she posted on an Instagram account.

“You were jealous, you were controlling?” Mr Assaad asked.

Kenny-Dowall denied this, saying the photo of Peris in a Lorna Jane sports crop top, “looks like underwear to me”.

Mr Assaad put it to Kenny-Dowall that he kicked Peris out of his unit in June, 2015, because he found text messages on her phone of her complaining to her stepfather of his controlling nature.

“He has a massive jealous streak, high insecurity, has fits of rage and always accuses me of lying or cheating,” Peris wrote to Scott Appleton.

Kenny-Dowall then wrote to Mr Appleton: “I have not touched or hurt Jess physically in any matter whatsoever.”

In closing submissions Mr Assad said Peris’ claims should not be discounted because she went to the Roosters asking for money before she went to police.

He said she did this to avoid public scrutiny.

“The alleged victim is not on trial. One could not criticise the delay in coming to police,” he said.

Kenny-Dowall’s barrister Ian Temby QC said Peris was an unreliable witness and Kenny-Dowall was not before the court for being a “less than ideal partner”.

“Had she got what she wanted, she would not have gone to the police,” he said.

“She came to this court determined to tell her story rather than answer the questions asked of her.”

Magistrate Gregory Grogin will hand down his decision on Monday.