Channel 9 reporter Seb Costello facing assault charges days after Nixon ‘altercation’

Two siblings who allege they were assaulted by Channel 9 reporter Seb Costello say they were “extremely apologetic” over the incident but claim he became enraged.

A brother and sister have slammed Channel 9 reporter Seb Costello over an alleged assault where he has been accused of running up to their doorway in a rage because his entrance into a public laneway temporarily blocked by their car.

In a joint statement provided to the Herald Sun, brother and sister Finn, 23, and Xanthe, 22, said they were “extremely apologetic” when they noticed their car was blocking the laneway off Boyd St, Richmond in February.

Yet, Costello allegedly started to yell at Xanthe, and escalated the agression when her brother came to help.

“I had to put my hand out on to his chest to stop him from pressing up against me,” Xanthe said.

“He was standing on the same step as me and I had to step into the house to regain my balance.

“My brother mentioned calling the police and (Costello) quickly backed off.”

Police said Costello would be charged on summons with two counts of unlawful assault over the February 11 incident. . Picture: Tony Gough

Xanthe’s partner, who was waiting in the car blocking the driveway, then copped a verbal spray from Costello before he sped off in his car, the siblings said.

The A Current Affair reporter told the Herald Sun he was on “compassionate leave” from the network after the death of his grandmother at the time of the alleged incident.

“It was 9.30am and a vehicle was blocking my driveway when I returned home to gain access,” Costello said.

“When I approached the neighbours’ front door to ask them to move the car so I could access my home, a ­disagreement occurred.”

The former foreign correspondent denied any assault, saying: “I was on a lower step to two other people … at no point did I assault anyone or even threaten anyone”.

The siblings say they are disappointed Costello “is so firm in denying his intimidation and aggression towards us”.

“The laneway is not his driveway, it’s a public road accessible to all residents,” they said.

“We understand he needed to pass through to go home and we appreciate that this was an inconvenience. However, we also needed to gain access to our own home.

“We are sorry to hear of his grandmother’s passing (Costello was on personal leave), but that is no reason for the way he treated us over such a small inconvenience.

“He showed massive entitlement, stating that he contractually has 24/7 access to the laneway.

“He is a grown man who could not contain his anger enough to not verbally assault a 23- and (then) 21-year-old at their home.”

Costello is due to front Collingwood’s Neighbourhood Justice Centre in September. Picture: Ian Currie

Costello, son of Nine chairman and former federal treasurer Peter Costello, said he did not notify his workplace about the alleged incident as he thought it was “minor”.

“When I was asked by the police some months later about it, I had no reason to not answer the questions honestly and felt in no way would the matter go any further,” he said.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman confirmed Costello would be charged on summons with two counts of unlawful assault over the February 11 incident.

No one was injured in the altercation.

He is due to front Collingwood’s Neighbourhood Justice Centre on September 28 for a mention hearing where he will be represented by legal gun Sam Norton, of Stary Norton Halphen.

Mr Norton has more recently defended wife killer Borce Ristevski, and Celeste Manno’s accused murderer Luay Sako.

Last week, Costello was seeking to lay assault charges of his own after controversial former AFL player agent Ricky Nixon allegedly elbowed him in the jaw.

The reporter had approached Nixon on a Port Melbourne street seeking comment over his controversial “ambulance” business, which was selling a potentially dangerous $350 intravenous infusion treatment.

On Wednesday afternoon Victoria Police said their investigation was complete after Costello became involved in a physical altercation with Nixon on July 27.

“A statement of no complaint has been made and the police investigation is complete,” Victoria Police said.

Nixon later declared “karma is a wonderful thing” after police revealed they had concluded their investigation into an alleged assault against Seb Costello.

“The media are on notice if they want to harass people,” Mr Nixon said on Wednesday.

“I am glad this has been resolved by authorities, I am very happy with the outcome.

“I have had unprecedented support from the community. Most people have said the same thing, that (Seb Costello) overstepped the mark.

“Should I have done what I did, probably not, but karma is a wonderful thing.”