Man charged after mother’s 10-floor balcony fall in Sydney’s CBD

A Sydney man has been charged by police over locking a mother outside on a CBD hotel room’s balcony during a row — before she fell 10 floors to her death.

A Sydney man has been charged by police over allegedly locking a mother outside on a CBD hotel room’s balcony during a row before she fell 10 floors to her death.

Mother-of-two Jodie Lovell, 45, of Kareela, had gone out in the city with the man – who she was dating – when they returned to their 10th floor room at the Hyatt Regency on Sussex St in May 2020.

Police will allege the couple then argued over texts messages on Ms Lovell’s phone while in the room.

They will also allege he locked her outside on the balcony before he returned a short time later to find she had vanished.

Ms Lovell’s body was later found on a rooftop below.

Jodie Lovell fell to her death from a balcony of the Hyatt Regency hotel on Sussex St.

Police will allege she was first locked on the balcony.

On Tuesday, police went to a property in Engadine and arrested the man.

He was charged with the domestic violence offence of detaining a person with an intent to obtain an advantage.

Police will allege in court he locked Ms Lovell out on the balcony prior to her fatal fall.

The man is not charged over her death.

She had two young daughters. Picture: Facebook

Police have previously appealed to the public for information about her death. Picture: Facebook

He was granted conditional bail and will face Sutherland Local Court on January 12.

Sydney City police boss Superintendent Gavin Wood previously called Ms Lovell’s death a tragedy.

“The young lady was in the prime of her life, a 45-year-old woman with two young daughters – its tragic circumstances,” he said.

During the police probe, officers recreated Ms Lovell’s fatal fall using a test dummy.

They also made a public appeal for information in 2020 before Tuesday’s arrest.