No bail for real estate agent Karl Howard after alleged samurai sword attack
The real estate agent accused of attacking two women – one with a samurai sword – while binge drinking in his $2m home has not applied for release.
Police & Courts
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A high flying Sydney real estate agent accused of wounding one woman with a samurai sword and punching another in the face has not applied for release from police custody.
Ray White Balmain co-owner, Karl Howard, remains in hospital when his matter was heard in Newtown Local Court on Wednesday morning.
The 44-year-old real estate agent was on a drinking binge with two women at his $2 million Annandale home when police alleged he punched the 27-year-old in the face and turned a samurai sword on the 29-year-old.
The court heard Howard was in an “intimate relationship” with one of the women and had strangled and forced a tongue kiss on her before the bloody ordeal.
The women ran from the home and banged on a neighbour’s door for help, police claim, while Howard staggered from the home bloodied with his own wounds.
Police arrested and charged Howard with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, wound with intent to murder and trespassing.
He underwent surgery for a dislocated shoulder and puncture wound and woke on Wednesday as his lawyer, John Sutton, said he wouldn’t apply for his release.
“I think he’s worried about a lot more than losing his job, it’s a very unfortunate circumstance,” he told reporters outside court.
“He’s in hospital, I’d seen him not long after surgery under anaesthetic and clearly that wasn’t the time to start asking detailed questions.”
Howard was selling their Annandale property when the confrontation took place.
She said the shocking allegations weren’t the “real him” but Ray White suspended Howard as the police investigation continues.
“The suspension has been extended pending the resolution of charges against him,” they said in a statement.
“We do not condone violence in any form. We are concerned for the wellbeing of all involved and staff are being offered counselling services.”
The company said they were concerned for the women involved.
Howard will remain in custody until April 8.
REAL ESTATE AGENT CHARGED OVER ALLEGED SAMURAI SWORD ATTACK
A prominent Sydney real estate agent and two women had been on a drinking binge at his $2 million Sydney home when police allege he lashed out at one of them with a Samurai sword.
Karl Howard, 44, has been stood down as co-owner of the Ray White Balmain office while police investigate whether drugs played a part in the bloody ordeal that unfolded during the early hours of Monday.
Police have now interviewed the New Zealand-born real estate agent who underwent surgery for a dislocated shoulder sustained during the alleged attack at the three-bedroom property he owned with his ex-girlfriend in Annandale, in the city‘s inner west.
He has since been charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, wound with intent to murder and trespassing. He was refused bail to appear at Newtown Local Court today.
Mr Howard and the two women had been drinking since Sunday afternoon before the incident at 5am on Monday.
His six-year relationship had broken down last year and friends say he was struggling to come to terms with breaking up with the woman “he thought he was going to spend the rest of his life with.”
Mr Howard allegedly injured the pair with police alleging the assault began when he punched one of the women, 27, in the head.
The other woman, 29, then intervened and was allegedly struck with the sword.
Mr Howard was seen leaving the scene bleeding, while the two women banged on a neighbour’s door where the alarm was raised and police were called.
One of the alleged victims is thought to have been in an intimate relationship with Mr Howard after meeting recently online.
Officers are waiting to formally interview the two women to glean exactly what happened. Both were at the same hospital in a satisfactory condition.
“He reached out to several friends and was boasting about a huge party at his house and was inviting anyone who wanted to come along, he was not himself,” a colleague said.
Ray White executives say they have temporarily stood down the successful principal while police investigate.
“He was been stood down from the business pending the police investigation, Ray White expects a high standard of personal conduct from its members,” a Ray White spokeswoman said.
“Our thoughts are with the women, we are deeply concerned for the girls’ well being.”
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