Sam Burgess court battle: Ex-wife Phoebe to be called as witness
Former Rabbitohs skipper Sam Burgess will face a hearing on an intimidation charge against his ex-wife’s father and Phoebe Burgess herself will be required to appear.
Police & Courts
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Phoebe Burgess will be called as a witness when her ex- husband and retired NRL player Sam Burgess faces a hearing on an intimidation charge against her father, a court has been told.
The former Rabbitohs skipper was mentioned in Moss Vale Local Court on Wednesday after pleading not guilty to intimidation over an allegedly nasty argument with Mitchell Hook at the 63-year-old’s home near Bowral last year.
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Burgess was also issued with an interim apprehended domestic violence order after the incident when he went to the $2 million Glenquarry property to see his young children during a prearranged visit last October.
In court on Wednesday, defence lawyer Bryan Wrench asked the matter to be adjourned until November for a hearing when several witnesses will be called by the prosecution including Ms Burgess and her sister Harriet Hooke.
“There are some new witnesses including Mr Hook, Harriet Hooke and Phoebe Burgess,“ he said.
“We have a number of questions we seek to ask.
“We’ve received a complete brief of evidence … we maintain our innocence in this matter.”
Magistrate Ian Cheetham granted the adjournment and ordered the interim order to continue.
Under the terms of the standard police order, the former England captain is banned from going within one kilometre of Mr Hooke’s Southern Highlands home or assaulting, stalking or harassing anyone in a domestic relationship with him.
Burgess is accused of intimidating Mr Hooke during the visit to see his children Poppy, 2, and Billy, 1. He plans to challenge the AVO in court.
The ugly episode ended a tough year for the former South Sydney forward, who retired early due to a shoulder injury amid a high profile divorce.
Burgess broke up with his ex-wife Phoebe for a second time last October and left the family’s $3.8 million Maroubra home. The pair finalised their divorce last April.
Since then, he has been linked to American waitress Oak Schuetz and Married At First Sight’s Jessika Power.