Scott Minigle pleads guilty to detaining Jodie Lovell before balcony fall

A man who locked his partner out on a Sydney high rise hotel balcony before she tragically fell to her death told police he had hoped it would allow them to cool off after an argument.

Scott Minigle leaves the Downing Centre Local Court on October 15, 2024.

A man who locked his partner out on a Sydney hotel balcony before she fell 10 floors to her death had been arguing with her over texts from a former lover.

Scott Minigle described his choices prior to his then-partner Jodie Lovell’s death on May 22, 2020 as “the biggest mistake of his f--king life” in a phone call as police listened in.

Ms Lovell fell from the 10th floor of the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Sydney after Minigle locked her out on the balcony to “cool her heels” after an argument.

New details about the tragedy have emerged in court documents tendered after Minigle pleaded guilty to detaining Ms Lovell to gain an advantage.

The charge relates to Minigle locking Ms Lovell out so he could read her texts from a former partner, and he has not been charged over her death.

Scott Minigle in January.

Jodie Lovell.

“The hotel manager stated the offender told her … his girlfriend was on the balcony and that they had an argument and then he closed the balcony door,” a Crown statement of facts read.

“He did not specify what he did then, but he turned back towards the balcony and she was gone.”

Scott Minigle with his solicitor outside court on Tuesday.

Minigle told police he saw Ms Lovell standing on a chair on the balcony briefly before she disappeared.

“The offender was crying and distressed,” the facts continued.

“He kept repeating ‘why did I do it’ and he was saying ‘I’m stupid’.”

An examination of Ms Lovell’s phone revealed Minigle messaged her ex while she was outside, saying “if you don’t leave Jodie alone you’re f--ked” followed by the water pistol emoji.

Jodie Lovell.

It is agreed Ms Lovell was locked out on the balcony for about 20 minutes.

“If I had any inkling she would do something as ridiculous as she did, there is no way, no way I would have locked that door, no way on f--ken God’s earth I would have locked that door,” Minigle told police.

“I wanted her to settle down, wanted our good night to continue, wanted to be able to talk about what we were going through.”

Minigle was committed to Sydney District Court for sentence.

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