Details of Asher Keddie and Vincent Fantauzzo’s terrifying home invasion revealed

Details of the assault on Vincent Fantauzzo — the husband of actor Asher Keddie — during a terrifying home invasion at their St Kilda property have been aired in court.

A burglar who broke into the home of acclaimed actor Asher Keddie hit her husband Vincent Fantauzzo in the face as he desperately tried to take off with one of his prized motorbikes.

The Herald Sun in January revealed how Fantauzzo, an award-winning artist, tackled the man in the driveway of their St Kilda home to stop the would-be thief in his tracks.

But details of the brutal assault on Fantauzzo were revealed on Tuesday as James Powell, 44, faced the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court and admitted to the brazen break-in.

The court heard Powell, from Altona, gained entry to the star couple’s garage on December 28 about 6.45am before “wheeling out” the Italian-made Ducati Scrambler.

Keddie, who was awake at the time, heard noises coming from the front of the house and spotted Powell – helmet in hand – with the $40,000 red motorbike.

Asher Keddie alerted her husband Vincent Fantauzzo to the intruder. Picture: Dan Peled

“Keddie began yelling at the accused to stop,” the police prosecutor told the court.

She woke her husband who quickly raced out of bed to challenge the crook, placing a hand on his shoulder to prevent him from leaving their property.

The court heard Powell then assaulted Fantauzzo by “immediately swinging his arm back” and “connecting with his face”.

The motorbike fell to the ground as a scuffle between the pair broke out.

“Fantauzzo was attempting to hold the accused down,” the police prosecutor said.

“The accused continued to fight and struggle with Fantauzzo, throwing his arms and legs around.”

The scuffle between Fantauzzo – who previously trained as a boxer – and the intruder had been described as a “brutal take-down” by a passer-by, who helped the artist restrain the man until police arrived.

Powell was transported to hospital under police guard after losing consciousness, where he is believed to have remained for nine days.

Fantauzzo, Keddie and their son Valentino. Picture: Tony Gough

But the court heard this was not his first time scoping out properties for bikes.

Powell snuck into a South Yarra apartment car park on September 17 last year about 10pm to check out multiple bikes.

But he was busted by a eagle-eyed resident who alerted police to the suspicious man canvassing the garage.

Fantauzzo and Keddie have not yet provided victim impact statements, but Fantauzzo recently opened up about the brutal encounter, telling the Sunday Herald Sun last month he felt like the ordeal happened in “slow motion”.

“This guy in my house, he could hurt my family, now he is trying to hurt me, I had to protect my family and defend myself,” he said of his mindset that morning.

Fantauzzo is a Ducati aficionado. Picture: Supplied

“Asher and I had a conversation the night before and said: ‘If I am away, what are you going to do if someone breaks into the house and it is just you and (our sons)?’ and she said ‘that is never going to happen’ and the next morning it happens.

“Asher (got up) and sees this guy downstairs and runs back to me and yells out and all I could think of was what if I was not there.

“He came prepared to steal my stuff. He brought his own helmet, he had cased the joint out and was there with intention, he was willing to go into my house where my family sleeps and possibly hurt my family.”

Powell pleaded guilty on Tuesday to charges relating to three separate incidents, including burglary, theft of a motor vehicle and unlawful assault.

He was charged with aggravated burglary and trespass following the break-in at Fantauzzo and Keddie’s address, but those charges were withdrawn on Tuesday.

Fantauzzo said he had to ‘protect my family and defend myself’. Picture: Monique Harmer

Powell’s defence lawyer Caitlin Blakeney told Magistrate Vince Caltabiano her client, who appeared via video link from Ravenhall Corrections Centre, had post-traumatic stress disorder and an acquired brain injury.

She asked Mr Caltabiano to adjourn the plea hearing in order for further psychiatric reports to be commissioned prior to his sentencing.

The court heard Powell was subject to a community corrections order at the time of the offending in December.

He will return to court on April 16.

Fantauzzo met Keddie in 2012 when he asked to paint her portrait. Picture: David Caird

Fantauzzo, who has won the Archibald Prize People’s Choice Award more times than any other artist, met Keddie in 2012 when he asked to paint her portrait.

They married in 2014 and share a son named Valentino, who was born the following year.

Fantauzzo has a son, Luca, from a previous marriage.

Keddie is one of Australia’s best known actors, winning a Gold Logie for her iconic role in Offspring and the Most Popular Actress Logie five times in a row between 2011 and 2015.