Ex-Channel 9 presenter Cameron Williams pleads not guilty to assault charges

The former Today Show sports presenter fronted Singleton Local Court on Thursday morning, four days after he was arrested and charged with allegedly assaulting his wife.

High-profile former Channel 9 sports presenter Cam Williams pictured outside Singleton Court.

Ex-Channel 9 journalist Cameron Williams will fight allegations he grabbed his wife during an argument at their rural property in the Hunter Valley last weekend.

The high-profile former sports presenter was arrested by police in the early hours of Sunday morning and charged with one count each of common assault and assault occasioning actual bodily harm over the alleged incident, which was said to have taken place after the couple had both been drinking with friends.

Police also took out an apprehended domestic violence order against Williams on behalf of his partner, Natasha Russo, before granting the 59-year-old bail.

Williams fronted Singleton Local Court on Thursday where he entered a plea of not guilty to the charge.

The case was set down for hearing on January 20 and is estimated to take four hours.

High-profile former Channel 9 sports presenter Cam Williams pictured outside Singleton Court on Thursday.

Williams had his bail continued, which requires him to live at his home in Coogee, abide by the conditions of the AVO and be “of good behaviour”.

The Daily Telegraph understands Williams, Ms Russo and friends were spending the weekend at a getaway they own in Howes Valley, just outside Singleton, when the couple allegedly began arguing after consuming alcohol.

Williams has been charged with common assault after an alleged domestic violence incident with his wife.

Williams allegedly pushed and grabbed his wife, before onlookers who heard the altercation intervened and called triple-zero.

The former TV star’s solicitor Paul McGirr told The Daily Telegraph on Sunday afternoon his client was “a loving father to his children who is extremely embarrassed by all this”.

“At this stage there‘s a lot more to the story, we’ll enter a plea of not guilty, obtain a brief of evidence and then go from there,” Mr McGirr said.

In a statement, a NSW Police spokeswoman confirmed officers from the Hunter Valley Police District were called to the property on Putty Rd about 1am with reports of a domestic-related incident.

Williams with his wife Natasha Russo. Picture: Instagram

“Following inquiries, a 59-year-old man was arrested and taken to Cessnock Police Station and charged with common assault (DV),” the statement read.

Williams resigned from Ch 9 suddenly in March this year after two decades with the broadcaster, including stints as sports presenter on the Today Show and Sydney’s 6pm news.

His departure from Nine was brought on in part out of a need for Williams to “focus on his health”, the TV station’s news director Darren Wick said in a statement at the time.

“Cameron Williams has resigned from his role with Nine as on-air sports presenter,” Mr Wick wrote.

“Cam is leaving us to focus on his health and then to pursue other opportunities that we look forward to hearing more about.

“I want to thank Cam for his significant contribution to Nine over the past six years. Cam’s last day was March 21, 2022. Please join us in wishing him all the very best.”