Josh Reynolds: Claims ex-girlfriend faked multiple pregnancies
Detectives will look at new information regarding the ex-girlfriend of NRL star Josh Reynolds to determine if she’s broken the law following claims she faked multiple pregnancies, used aliases and lied about suffering from cancer.
Police & Courts
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NSW Police have announced detectives will look at new information regarding the ex-girlfriend of NRL star Josh Reynolds to determine if she’s broken the law following claims she faked multiple pregnancies, used aliases and lied about suffering from cancer.
“Police are conducting further inquiries into the matter,” a police spokeswoman said.
“Detectives from St George Police Area Command recently received new information relevant to the investigation, which is being reviewed.”
“As these inquiries continue, it would not be appropriate to comment further at this time.”
The woman at the centre of the bombshell allegations will face cross examination in the domestic violence trial of Reynolds.
Reynolds, 30, faced Sutherland Local Court on Friday after stunning details emerged overnight about his defence case, including claims that his ex-partner Arabella del Busso faked multiple pregnancies, doctored images to look pregnant and asked a person who has now turned witness in the case to help inject her with fertility drugs.
Reynolds has pleaded not guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm (DV) last year and will vehemently defend the charge.
He was due to face a hearing in July but his lawyer Daniel McGirr has tried to expedite the case, which was today adjourned to April 29.
“I’m happy the matter’s been brought forward to prove my innocence,” Reynolds said outside court.
The NRL on Friday cleared Reynolds to continue playing while he faced the charges with the Integrity Unit and CEO Todd Greenberg deciding against suspending him under the code’s no-fault stand-down policy.
“I haven’t heard anything from the NRL but if they are supporting me I’m very happy with that decision,” Reynolds said.
It means Reynolds will be available for selection for the Wests Tigers first game of the season against St George Illawarra on March 15.
Mr Greenberg said Reynolds was the subject of a very complex matter.
“Josh Reynolds has been upfront and open about his situation,” Greenberg said.
“He proactively advised the integrity unit prior to the commencement of the police investigation and I would encourage other players to be as forthcoming.
“That said, the allegation he faces is serious and we will continue to work with and receive updates about his situation from NSW Police.”
The NRL on Friday afternoon issued an update on a number of cases before the courts, including news that Penrith Panthers player Tyrone May will be free to resume his playing career, having missed the entire 2019 season while facing sex tape charges.
In a bombshell twist to assault claims laid against Reynolds, the Wests Tigers star will allege he is one of six men to have been caught up in a web of lies by Ms del Busso, and that he is the subject of a stunning and calculated deceit attempt.
The disturbing level of detail was explained to the NRL, NSW Police and the Tigers prior to him being charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm relating to an alleged domestic violence incident last year.
LATEST FROM COURT
Reynolds’ lawyer, Mr McGirr, told the court on Friday he had met police and put “everything on the table”.
“We met with the crime manger in order to try and negotiate these down,” Mr McGirr said.
He said the “high profile” nature of the case meant more details were still being surfaced by the legal team.
“It’s sort of a moving feast … they see something in the media, they then contact the solicitor or the defendant themselves,” Mr McGirr said.
The court heard the prosecution could call up to 10 witnesses, including seven police officers, and Reynolds’ defence would also call a number of witnesses and cross examine Ms Del Busso as the alleged victim.
Mr McGirr said his side would call a doctor who treated Ms Del Busso to explain whether medicaion given to her needed to be injected.
“We need them to say what medication it was, the purpose of that medication, how it’s used – i.e whether it’s injected or not,” he said.
The police prosecutor said large amounts of evidence in affidavits were only received by him on Thursday night.
“Late yesterday the representations were received, they are very lengthy. What was contained in those representations needs to be looked at,” he said.
DEFENDING PREGNANCY CLAIMS
Friday’s court hearing comes as a woman claiming to Georgia Barone, the sister of Ms Del Busso, insisted on Thursday night that her sibling’s pregnancies were legitimate.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal that aside from key statements from five other men who have handed over thousands of dollars for various reasons to Ms Del Busso, Reynolds’ defence will also allege that the woman created digitally enhanced images of herself to give the impression she was pregnant.
An independent witness has also provided a statement to Reynolds’ legal team, which is led by high-profile barrister Margaret Cunneen and solicitor Dan McGirr, which will detail how Ms Del Busso allegedly asked the witness to help her inject fertility drugs, which would aid her attempt to appear as though she was pregnant.
The witness declined to assist Ms Del Busso.
On Thursday night Ms Barone told The Daily Telegraph that “at this very minute we’re just trying to handle what Josh has said and done.
“I’ll have to talk to Bella about this.
“However I can say that there is medical proof that these pregnancies weren’t fake … and that Josh is doing all of this to force Bella into dropping the charges.”
However, a follow-up phone call to The Daily Telegraph on Friday morning from a reliable source alleged that the “sister” was actually Ms Del Busso.
BOMBSHELL CLAIMS
Reynolds’ lawyers have been contacted by other men supporting Reynolds’ claims.
An ex-boyfriend of Ms Del Busso, Michael Hayes, was awarded $7866 via a Queensland tribunal.
He sued for the money she claims she needed for a relatives funeral.
Another man has provided a statement to Reynolds’ legal team that alleges Ms Del Busso told the man she had cervical cancer, leading him to give her around $2500 for the treatment.
Under the name Bella Donna de Denato she had a medical certificate from a Doctor Galal Tadros in 2013 stating she had brain cancer.
Reynolds’ legal team will claim Dr Tadros says it’s a fake.
Reynolds will claim he met her through social media in late 2018 and saw her once.
Three months later she contacted the former NSW State of Origin star to say she was pregnant with twins.
She then told him she lost the twins, but quickly fell pregnant with twins again.
REYNOLDS’ ANGUISH
Reynolds went public with his anguish, when Ms Del Busso then told him she lost those twins.
“When I found out we were having twin boys I was over the moon,” Reynolds said last year, revealing the couple had built a nursery for the boys.
“I just love them and I was ready to take that step.
“It’s made me deal with something in life that I didn’t think I would have to deal with.
“That was something in life I’ve always wanted but I’ve sort of had to go along the lines that everything happens for a reason.”
Reynolds also discussed the difficulty of comforting his grieving partner.
“How do I comfort her when I’m struggling myself,” he said. “And because it is a lot harder for females because they go through it, growing inside them.
“I really wanted to be a man and be there for her too.”
Ms Del Busso allegedly told him she was pregnant for a third time but Reynolds defence will argue that medical records show she was never pregnant on any of the three occasions.
Through the alleged ordeal, Reynolds also claims he was encouraged not to attend regular check-ups of the supposed babies.
On one occasion Ms Del Busso asked Reynolds to stay in the waiting room.
Reynolds also claims Ms Del Busso told him her mother died and she needed money for her funeral.
The NRL star gave her over $4000.
Ms Del Busso’ mother Isabelle Preusker told Nine on Thursday night: “What’s been happening is devastating for a lot of people, and enough’s enough she needs to be stopped.’’
Ms Barone said her sister had nothing to do with her biological mum since she was of 17.
Reynolds will claim Ms Del Busso only filed the domestic violence complaint to police after she learned of his decision to tell his story to the police and after he asked she never contact him again.
Reynolds will appear in court today for an expedited hearing in to the matter.
Additional reporting Danielle Gusmaroli