Ultra Tune boss Sean Buckley to fight claims he assaulted bikini model ex Jennifer Cruz Cole

Car repair magnate Sean Buckley will fight a string of criminal charges during a two-week contested hearing next year, in which a magistrate will hear from 24 witnesses.

Ultra Tune owner Sean Buckley and his ex-girlfriend Jennifer Cruz Cole. Picture: Supplied

Ultra Tune boss Sean Buckley will fight allegations he assaulted and stalked his model ex-girlfriend, with his defence barrister to argue crucial evidence from a Crown hotel room should be thrown out of court.

Mr Buckley, 63, fronted the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday where a date was set for a two-week contested hearing which is expected to hear from 24 witnesses.

The car repair magnate will fight several charges, including common law assault, making a threat to kill and stalking.

Two of the offences were alleged to have taken place in a Crown Towers apartment in Melbourne on January 18, 2020, when Jennifer Cruz Cole went to visit Mr Buckley, who she was dating at the time.

Ultra Tune boss Sean Buckley will fight the charges at a two-week hearing next year. Picture: Luis Ascui

Jennifer Cruz Cole is expected to give evidence at the hearing. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

In March this year, the court was played shocking audio of Mr Buckley allegedly assaulting Ms Cole in the room, in which she can be heard begging the “evil monster” to stop.

Ms Cole, a bikini model, gave evidence that prior to the alleged assault she began to secretly record Mr Buckley on her phone after becoming fearful.

Mr Buckley, who was talking on the phone to another person, could be heard in the 20-minute recording allegedly threatening to kill a former business associate.

But when Mr Buckley discovered he was being recorded, the pair began to physically struggle over her phone as he attempted to place it under a running tap.

Thumps, which Ms Cole alleged were sounds made by Mr Buckley punching her in the face, could be heard while Ms Cole screeches “stop it” and begins to cry.

Dermot Dann KC, representing Mr Buckley, on Thursday told the court that prior to the contested hearing he would make arguments relating to the “exclusion of evidence”.

The court heard he was seeking for the recording made by Ms Cole on her phone “in the hotel room” to be excluded on the basis it was improperly obtained or obtained in contravention of a law.

In Victoria, it can be illegal to record private conversations you are not a party to without consent of the parties.

Jennifer Cruz Cole and Sean Buckley.

Mr Buckley sat in the back row of the courtroom during Thursday’s proceedings, whispering to his co-accused Wade D’Andrea, 42, who is facing a single charge of stalking.

He is one of the men allegedly hired by the Ultra Tune chief executive to stalk Ms Cole over a number of months.

Ms Cole claims Mr Buckley was keeping her under surveillance because he wanted to know if she was cheating on him, since they were considering getting married.

In March, Mr Buckley was committed to the County Court for trial on the charges of stalking, making a threat to kill and common law assault after Magistrate Andrew McKenna ruled there was enough evidence to support a conviction.

But Mr McKenna dismissed the charge of recklessly causing injury, noting three medical specialists could not confirm Ms Cole had suffered a facial injury.

However, he said the alternative charge of common law assault could proceed, in relation to the struggle for the phone.

Mr D’Andrea was also committed to stand trial.

But in October, their matters were sent back down to the Magistrates’ Court at their request, with the prosecution’s consent.

This means the 24 witnesses – including Ms Cole – will not give evidence in front of a jury but a magistrate, who will determine whether Mr Buckley is guilty or not guilty.

The court heard Mr D’Andrea may have his matter dealt with separately.

Mr Buckley will return to court in September ahead of the contested hearing on October 7, 2024.