Samurai sword attacker’s mad dash outside court

A former real estate agent who attacked two women during a late-night incident is facing trial before Sydney’s Downing Centre District Court.

A real estate agent who attacked two women – including one with a samurai sword – during a drug-fuelled late-night incident will face trial after the Crown prosecution rejected a series of guilty pleas.

Karl Adon Howard, 46, faced the opening day of his NSW District Court trial on Thursday.

Howard made a hasty exit from Sydney’s Downing Centre District Court on Thursday morning, running past waiting media and into traffic as he tried to duck photographers and cameramen.

The former principal at Ray White Balmain has pleaded guilty to two charges – one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm to one woman and one count of recklessly causing grievous bodily harm to the second woman.

Karl Howard made a hasty exit from Sydney’s Downing Centre District Court. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

He has admitted to attacking two women in his Annandale home in the early hours of February 8, 2021, with the court previously being told he had ingested a cocktail of valium, Viagra, cocaine and alcohol.

The two women cannot be named for legal reasons.

Earlier this year, Howard also pleaded not guilty to one count of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to murder and another count of intending to cause grievous bodily harm.

The court was told on Thursday that the Crown prosecution did not accept the pleas in full satisfaction of the brief and Howard would now face trial.

Police have alleged Howard punched a woman in the head before hitting her 29-year-old friend with a samurai sword as she attempted to intervene.

A court was previously told Howard had mixed valium, Viagra and cocaine with alcohol on the night before the incident.

The court was told the issue at trial would be whether Howard had intent to harm the woman.

Howard has pleaded not guilty to several charges. Picture: Facebook

He then fled the home but was detained by police in a nearby street and taken to hospital for injuries sustained during his arrest.

The court was told CCTV and body-worn footage were set to be played during the evidence, while one of the women would give evidence.

Howard is facing a judge-alone trial before judge Antony Townsden, with evidence to begin on Friday.