Axed St George Illawarra player Junior Amone makes mental health application after common assault charge
Exiled rugby league player Talatau Junior Amone has lodged a mental health application after allegations he spat on a woman, who claims to have been intimate with him, at a Wollongong pub.
Illawarra Star
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Exiled rugby league player Talatau Junior Amone has lodged a mental health application after allegations he spat on a woman, who claims to have been intimate with him, at a Wollongong pub.
Amone, who is charged with common assault, was excused from attending Wollongong Local Court on Friday where he was represented by his lawyer Elias Tabchouri who made the section 14 mental health application his behalf.
Court documents state the alleged assault occurred in the early hours of August 4 at The Illawarra Hotel in the Wollongong CBD.
The documents state the complainant, Tamara Duncombe, approached Amone, 22, who allegedly said: “Do I know you?”
According to the documents, Ms Duncombe, who the court previously heard knew Amone for about a year with the pair having been intimate, replied: “Don’t play dumb with me.”
Documents state Amone allegedly began abusing Ms Duncombe, calling her a “variety of offensive words” before lunging at her and spitting in her face.
The complainant spoke with security before leaving the pub with another woman while Amone was kicked out. Police arrested Amone at his home in Warrawong.
During a bail application last month, Mr Tabchouri said “there is no domestic relationship” between Amone and Ms Duncombe and added: “My client denies being intimate with her … he doesn’t know her.”
Mr Tabchouri submitted Amone has a partner who he has “been with for a long time”, telling the court, Ms Duncombe “accosted” Amone due to his “notoriety from his rugby league career”.
Police prosecutor Kylie Talty opposed Amone’s bail given the accused was on a 16-month intensive correction order for a violent hammer attack on a tradie.
Amone had pleaded not guilty to destroying or damaging property, intimidation and assault occasioning actual bodily harm, but was found guilty during a multi-day hearing at Wollongong Local Court last year.
The matter was adjourned with the interim apprehended domestic violence order remaining in place.
Got a court yarn? Email dylan.arvela@news.com.au
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