Jamil Hopoate: Ex-Bronco in Sydney court with support of dad John Hopoate
Dumped NRL player Jamil Hopoate has been supported by his father John in court over DV and drug charges.
Police & Courts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Police & Courts. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Dumped NRL player Jamil Hopoate has faced a Sydney court for the first time over domestic violence and drug allegations, since walking free from prison on bail.
And for his date at Central Local Court on Thursday the 26-year-old had the support of his father John Hopoate, the former Manly star who was wearing a pink tracksuit in an apparent reference to one of his most infamous on field incidents.
Hopoate senior’s pink tracksuit featured multiple index fingers pointed in upwards directions in a strikingly similar position to when he inserted his own finger up the backside of an unsuspecting Cowboys player 20 years ago.
Jamil Hopoate, who was released on bail from Parklea Correctional Centre earlier this week, was due to be sentenced over two common assault charges after he had admitted to hitting his partner, Shae Beathe, in the car park of a Port Macquarie pub last year.
He also had his other matter listed in the same court after he was taken into custody in May over allegedly accessing a truck linked to a 514kg cocaine shipment at Port Botany and charged with commercial drug supply.
But defence lawyer Evan James asked for an adjournment and said there had been a delay in receiving paperwork relevant to Hopoate’s domestic violence matter because he had been taken into custody over the unrelated matter.
“He was only released recently, we’re asking if that goes to August 19, there’s some subjective material that needs to be gathered and because of his incarceration and the COVID situation that has delayed that unfortunately,” Mr James said.
The court was also told there would be a detention application against Hopoate and his co-accused, Leanne Mafoa, in relation to the drug charges.
But prosecutor Ellen Dando said the Crown was no longer pressing the application, which would have seen their bail revoked if successful, after finding the “spirit” of their strict conditions had been complied with.
Magistrate Robert Williams adjourned Hopoate’s domestic violence sentence to August 19.
The magistrate adjourned Hopoate and Mafoa’s drug matter to July 29.
Police allege Hopoate entered the truck and left with a backpack filled with fake cocaine, which police had secretly swapped with the real thing, before entering a car being driven by Mafoa.
Hopoate allegedly panicked and yelled “Drive, drive, drive” before Mafoa sped off and almost hit a police officer, a court heard.
It is alleged Hopoate then fled on foot and threw the bag over a fence before the two were arrested.
Hopoate was released by the Broncos at the end of last season and failed to ink any new deal with a Sydney club after being charged with the domestic violence offences.
He remains partners with Ms Beathe, who posted a photo on Instagram on Tuesday night after he was granted bail with the caption: “And he‘s home ... amen”.
More Coverage
Body found in boat harbour
The body of a man has been pulled from a popular waterway on the Queensland-New South Wales border. Here’s what we know.
Cops with chainsaw surround unit in city’s east
A major police operation is underway in Sydney’s eastern suburbs beside a high school after a man was found holed up inside his apartment, suspected of being armed.