Ertunc Ozen charged with bashing up wife

One of Sydney’s most prominent criminal barristers has been accused of repeatedly assaulting and verbally abusing his wife over several months. He denies the charges.

High profile criminal barrister Ertunc Ozen has been charged with multiple domestic violence offences. Picture: Hollie Adams

One of Sydney’s most prominent criminal barristers allegedly punched, spat on and verbally abused his wife of three years in a series of incidents over several months.

Ertunc Ozen, 53, was charged with nine counts of common assault, one of assault causing actual bodily harm and one of contravening an apprehended domestic violence order in June, for which he was initially refused bail by police and then granted conditional bail by a magistrate.

In two court documents, police outline multiple allegations of physical violence and demeaning verbal abuse that continued over more than two years.

Among the allegations are several claims the high profile barrister punched and hit his wife in the face, spat on her, and called her a number of offensive names.

He strenuously denies the claims and has pleaded not guilty to all 11 charges ahead of a local court hearing next year.

Ozen’s wife first made a complaint after he allegedly assaulted her in his car on their way to a birthday party on June 8, before coming forward with additional historical allegations of violence.

Barrister Ertunc Ozen arrives at the Supreme Court in Sydney for a separate matter in 2023. Picture: NCA NewsWire

In a document of allegations about the June 8 incident, police state Ozen called his wife a “bad woman” and a “prostitute” during an argument about their relationship.

“The accused slapped the victim’s right thigh two times which caused immediate pain and in self defence, the victim kicked the accused in the head which resulted in a laceration,” police allege in the documents handed up in court on Thursday.

Ertunc Ozen. Picture: Hollie Adams

“The accused grabbed the victim’s wrist and twisted her left wrist in a manner which caused immediate pain – as a result, the victim sustained red marks, scratches and bruising.”

Police will allege this constituted a breach of an apprehended domestic violence order imposed against Ozen for his wife’s protection earlier in 2024 on a without admissions basis.

Ozen, through his solicitor Mahmoud Abbas, consented to the order without any admissions and no charges were laid.

In a document outlining the historical accusations prior to the car incident, Ozen is alleged to have hit his wife repeatedly in the face after forcing her to go to bed with him on November 19 last year.

“The accused forced the victim to retire to bed, (and) had the victim lay down in bed with her head on his chest,” police allege.

“The victim told the accused that he was scaring her and the accused turned to his right, moving the victim off his chest, and swung his arm backwards, hitting her in the left side of her face three times.”

Ozen then allegedly spat in his wife’s face after she fled to another room in the house.

Irina Ozen with an injury to her nose which she alleges was caused by Ertunc Ozen assaulting her.

In another alleged incident on November 21 last year, police allege Ozen slapped his wife and pushed her out of the apartment’s front door because she was not touching him.

“When she asked him why he hit her, the accused stated ‘I hit you because you don’t touch me’.”

On January 4 as the pair prepared for a trip to Russia, Ozen allegedly became angry when his wife closed his suitcase without putting his bathroom bag inside.

“The accused called the victim a ‘selfish c — t’ and left the bedroom looking for items around the apartment,” police allege.

“The accused re-entered the bedroom and slapped the victim across the face with an open palm.”

Irina Ozen. Picture: NewsWire / John Appleyard

Ozen is then alleged to have called his wife a “f — king c — t” because she was wearing his jumper, told her to leave and call the police, then slapped and spat on her face.

As she tried to move away from Ozen, he is alleged to have pushed his wife into a door frame, where she hit her face.

“The victim turned around and the accused punched her in the nose with a closed fist,” police allege.

“The victim’s nose began to bleed and swell, and the victim requested for the accused to take her to the hospital, but he refused.”

Police also allege Ozen slapped his wife across the face during an argument at their home in February 2022, then threw a glass toward her which smashed against a wall.

In May 2022, police allege Ozen pushed his wife twice during an argument, causing her to fall back, hit the back of her head on a wall, and her hip and knee on a stool, causing bruising.

On October 17 last year, Ozen allegedly told his wife to “get f**ked”, slapped her across the face and threw her out of their inner city apartment.

Police will further allege Ozen threw food at his wife from the fridge and kicked her in the thigh after she observed he needed to “get his anxiety under control” in another incident on November 5 last year.

Images of Irina Ozen, depicting what she alleges are injuries caused by alleged assaults committed by her husband and high profile barrister Ertunc Ozen.

On November 30 last year, Ozen allegedly slapped his wife in the face, then hit her five or six times in the head until her nose bled on December 8 in separate domestic arguments.

Ozen’s wife made the complaints about the incidents between February 2022 and January 2024 the evening after the June 8 incident in the car.

The barrister is a highly sought after criminal advocate who frequently appears in high profile trials and bail applications for people accused of serious crimes.

He recently appeared for two men accused of brandishing guns at innocent people in an eastern suburbs street in hapless efforts to locate and assassinate a high profile man who cannot be identified.

It is understood the NSW Bar is aware of the allegations against Ozen, who remains practising without restriction.

The Daily Telegraph can now report on the allegations against Ozen after Magistrate Robin Denes refused an application by Ozen to have his identity covered up by a non-publication order.

The court heard Ozen had concerns any publicity around his charges may adversely impact his ability to appear in other criminal trials.

“These charges of domestic violence do have publicity in the community at the moment,” Ms Denes said at court on Thursday.

“It’s important to note that all parts of the community, whether the most disadvantaged to the most advantaged, that the public knows that these allegations can arise in the course of all walks of life.”

Ozen’s solicitor Mahmoud Abbas made a statement after the non-publication order was refused.

“Mr Ozen SC without any doubt unequivocally denies these allegations,” Mr Abbas said.

“As it stands, pleas of not guilty have been entered and the matters will be firmly defended.”

The matter will return to court for hearing on March 30, 2025.

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