Wendell Sailor wants assault charge dropped over Sydney bar drama
EX NRL star Wendell Sailor has appeared in court for the first time after being charged over a booze-fuelled incident at an inner Sydney bar.
Police & Courts
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Embattled ex NRL star Wendell Sailor is in negotiations with police to drop one of the assault charges he is facing over an alleged drunken incident at an inner Sydney night spot.
The Brisbane Broncos premiership hero made his first appearance in court on Thursday after The Daily Telegraph revealed he had been charged with five offences that stemmed from an alleged booze-fuelled episode at Pappy’s Bar on November 6 where staff accused him of assault and yelling “Do you know who I am?”.
The 50-year-old appeared in the Downing Centre Local Court where his lawyer Adam Houda asked the court’s deputy registrar for a “six to eight week adjournment” for negotiations on the charges to continue.
There was some initial confusion on which charges would be proceeded with after Mr Houda told the deputy registrar, “The officer in charge (of the case) contacted me and told me he was going to withdraw a charge.”
The police prosecutor in the matter jumped to his feet and corrected Mr Houda by saying, “That is not the case.”
Instead, the officer told the court a report had been prepared by the officer in charge, which would be reviewed by a senior officer before any decision would be made on the charges.
“Well, that’s what he told me,” Mr Houda said.
The code hopping superstar, who played 37 times for the Wallabies, is facing five charges after he was arrested over a late night incident at the Erskine St bar.
He was charged with two counts of common assault, offensive behaviour, intimidation and failing to leave a licenced venue when directed.
He is yet to enter a plea to the charges.
Sailor previously told The Daily Telegraph “Nothing happened, mate. Nothing happened” when contacted about the charges.
Sailor quit his radio career with Triple M in July where he was a host of the popular Rush Hour program with Gus Worland and AFL legend Jude Bolton.
Sailor won four premierships with the Broncos in a decorated career that saw him play 189 games for the club.
He then defected to rugby union on a big money contract for the Wallabies before returning to the NRL for two seasons with the St Illawarra Dragons.
Sailor was excused from attending when his case next appears in court on January 30.
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