Sebastian Pellegrino: Hunters Hill PT to stand trial over alleged stabbing

A north shore personal trainer who will stand trial over an alleged bloody stabbing in the eastern suburbs has told a court he wants to be able to work out with clients again.

UPDATE

A Sydney personal trainer charged with stabbing a man in an attempt to rob him at an eastern suburbs home is set to face trial next year.

Hunters Hill teen Sebastian Pellegrino, 19, appeared before Judge Dina Yehia at Sydney District Court for arraignment on Friday.

Appearing on the audiovisual link, Pellegrino confirmed he would plead not guilty to assault with intent to rob while armed.

A trial spanning five to seven days will begin on October 4 2022.

Pellegrino remains on strict conditional bail.

EARLIER 

BY EMILY MACDONALD ON SEPTEMBER 23,2021

A north shore personal trainer who is currently under home detention at his parents’ house as he awaits trial for allegedly stabbing a man has told a court he wants to start working out with clients again.

Sebastian Pellegrino, 19, of Hunters Hill was committed to stand trial at Downing Centre Local Court today (Thursday, September 23) after pleading not guilty to a single charge of assault with intent to rob while armed with an offensive weapon and causing wound/grievous bodily harm.

The teen is accused of stabbing Italian national Luca Cianfriglia, 33, multiple times at his home in Coogee on January 8.

He was arrested in March following the public release of CCTV footage by police.

Hunters Hill personal trainer Sebastian Pellegrino. Photo: Fitness Australia

Pellegrino was originally denied bail in Waverley Local Court but it was later granted by the Supreme Court.

The news of Pellegrino’s arrest shook the tight knit lower north shore fitness community.

The accused appeared in court via videolink from the family home with his mother Amanda by his side.

He pleaded guilty to possessing a small amount of ketamine which officers uncovered after searching the family home in the wake of the alleged stabbing.

The sentence for the drug charge will be dealt with at a later date.

Pellegrino’s lawyer asked he be granted a variation to the strict bail imposed by the Supreme Court which would allow him to leave the home for work unaccompanied between 11am and 3pm.

A CCTV image released by police in the wake of the alleged stabbing. Photo: NSW Police.

“As it currently stands Mr Pellegrino is permitted to leave his house for the purposes of employment at any stage of the day as long as he is in the company of his mother, father or brother,” his lawyer said.

“Although this theoretically allows him to leave, practically he cannot.”

The court heard both Pellegrino’s dad and brother work full time and his mother has a severe auto-immune musculoskeletal disease which prevents her from leaving the house.

Pellegrino’s lawyer explained the variation sought to allow Pellegrino to return to work – which was the intention of the conditions imposed by the Supreme Court.

“Your Honour this isn’t a situation where Mr Pellegrino is trying to slowly dilute the home detention,” his lawyer said.

Deputy Chief Magistrate Allen adjourned the bail application until next Thursday (September 30) to give the Crown time to seek instructions from the officer in charge of the case.

He committed Pellegrino to stand trial in the Sydney District court.

The young personal trainer will front the District Court on October 22 to be allocated a trial date.