Dr Timothy Steel: Wife ‘petrified’ of St Vincent’s neurosurgeon, court hears

A court has heard how a leading neurosurgeon allegedly punched, kicked and pulled out his wife’s hair extensions as they struggled over her phone.

Renowned surgeon Dr Timothy Steel faces domestic violence charges. Picture: Damian Shaw

The wife of a world-renowned Sydney brain surgeon told police responding to allegations of a domestic violence incident at the couple’s luxurious eastern suburbs home she was “petrified” of her husband, a court has heard.

St Vincent’s Hospital head of neurosurgery Dr Timothy Steel’s hearing for assault charges continued on Monday at Downing Centre Local Court, which heard Emma Steel’s account of her terrifying ordeal in December 2019.

Dr Steel, who was suspended from practising after the allegations came to light in February, has pleaded not guilty to charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, common assault and property damage.

Dr Steel (centre) denies the allegations. Picture: Damian Shaw

Defence lawyer Paul McGirr previously told the court Dr Steel, 56, was attacked in his bed by Ms Steel who was angry as she believed her husband to be unfaithful.

Footage of a visibly shaken Ms Steel during her police interview in the aftermath of the incident was played before the court on Monday.

In the footage, she told police how Dr Steel, 56, allegedly punched, kicked and pulled out her hair extensions as they struggled over her mobile phone after she confronted him when he returned home drunk at 6am on December 14.

She claimed to police the phone contained pictures of injuries from previous instances of abuse, and Dr Steel attempted to destroy the evidence by submerging it in the pool of their sprawling Bellevue Hill home.

Dr Steel (centre) leaves the Downing Centre on Monday. Picture: Damian Shaw

In the video, Ms Steel said her husband of 11 years was intoxicated and refused to speak to her when he returned home following a party she also attended but left earlier in Double Bay.

The couple had planned lunch with friends at Rose Bay institution Catalina later that day, and Ms Steel allegedly tried to rouse her husband.

“He didn’t speak to me, and I felt he was unable to speak,” she said to police in the footage.

“I said, ‘Where did you go last night?’”

She told police she said, “I know where you were”, when Dr Steel suddenly “jumped up” and began wrestling his wife for her phone, the court heard.

“He grabbed my hair, pulled my hair, ripped out my extensions,” she said in the footage. “He kicks me, he’s pushing me. I was calling out for help.”

Tim and Emma Steel in happier times.

In the video Ms Steel told police it was not the first time Dr Steel had physically assaulted her, claiming she was also subjected to “financial abuse” with her husband withholding money from her.

“I’m petrified because of the ongoing abuse,” she said. “He’s physically assaulted me before.”

“He’s told me he wants to get rid of me. He’s told me if I don’t sign the post-nup (sic) our marriage is over.”

The court was shown mobile phone images of bruises on Ms Steel’s legs and arms, and pictures of Dr Steel’s scratched body, which she testified were the result of the “struggle” that spanned two bedrooms on December 14.

Ms Steel gave evidence before the court the couple have been officially separated since the incident, but she still feared her husband could “turn up at any point”.

“Throughout the marriage I’ve been very controlled … financially and emotionally,” she said.

“It’s always been under Tim’s rules.”

Dr Tim Steel, before surgery at St Vincent's Hospital in 2005.

Mr McGirr told the court Ms Steel had made up her version of events, and instead claimed Dr Steel was “viciously assaulted” by his wife while he slept.

In police body-worn camera footage played to the court in March, Dr Steel said he was forced to push his wife off him, who was grabbing and scratching him, and run from the room. He said he jumped in the pool to avoid her.

During a fiery cross examination on Monday, Mr McGirr asked Ms Steel if she was angry after finding out, through accessing an iPad synched with her husband’s phone, Dr Steel was in a hotel room with his receptionist.

“I wasn’t angry, I already knew there was an affair going on,” she said.

Mr McGirr put to her she began screaming and attacked his client: “You jumped on him and clawed his face,” he said.

Ms Steel denied the allegation: “I’m not a violent person,” she said.

The hearing continues.