Domestic violence charges withdrawn against exiled NRL player Taylan May

Police have been ordered to pay more than $20,000 in legal costs for an exiled NRL star after domestic violence allegations against him were withdrawn at the last minute.

Police have withdrawn domestic violence charges laid against an exiled NRL player who was accused of punching his wife and telling her “I hate you” and “I wouldn’t care if I killed you”.

Former Penrith Panthers player Taylan May, 23, was charged with punching his wife Jess May in the right eye during an altercation at a home in Werrington, in Sydney’s west, in April last year. 

The court was told he also charged with striking her in the forehead and telling her “I hate you that much I wouldn’t care if I killed you”. 

“I’ll come after you,” Mr May was accused of telling his wife during the incident. 

“I’ll come after your family because they can’t keep their mouths shut. You deserve everything that’s coming to you.”

NRL player Taylan May has had domestic violence offences against him withdrawn. Picture: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

He was arrested in May and police took out an apprehended violence order against him, which he allegedly breached by grocery shopping with his wife in August.

Mr May has pleaded not guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, two counts of stalking or intimidation intending to cause fear of harm, and two counts of contravening an AVO.

The former Penrith Panthers centre wore a black suit with a crisp white shirt and a black tie as he strolled into Penrith courthouse with his head bowed on Monday.

The court was told his wife and her sister, both of whom were expected to give evidence, were not in attendance.

Police prosecutor Craig Pullen said the officers in charge of the investigation had attempted to speak to Mrs May on multiple occasions but could not get onto her, and her sister had tendered a medical certificate to show she was unable to attend court.

He appeared in court on Monday for a hearing after denying the allegations. Picture: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

He stressed “the blight these (domestic violence) offences have on society” and asked for the matter to be adjourned until a later date. 

However, Mr May’s barrister Phillip Boulten SC said there was “absolutely no reason to think the complainant will come next time either”.

He emphasised that his client had denied the charges and said “there is a real contest about if she was assaulted at all”.

The court was told Mrs May had previously applied to vary the conditions of the AVO so she could contact her husband, and indicated she would like to withdraw the charges.

Mr May’s alleged AVO breaches occurred after the conditions of the order had been varied so the contravention charges “should never have been brought”, Mr Boulten argued.

Mr May parted ways with the Penrith Panthers in May last year. Picture: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

He said police were “all over” Mr May and had stopped him six times in the 24 hours leading up to the hearing on Monday. 

“He’s been under all this pressure, all this time, waiting for these matters to be determined,” he said. 

“Enough is enough in my submission. Can we just allow these people to move on?”

Magistrate Stephen Corry said it was “essentially a one-on-one case” that required the evidence of Mrs May and her sister. 

He inferred it was a “deliberate decision” by both women not to attend court.

“She’s just not here. It’s unexplained. I can’t see the position would be any different (next time),” Mr Corry said.

He declined to adjourn the matter and the police prosecutor subsequently withdrew the charges.

Mr May was surrounded by supporters in court. Picture: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

Mr Corry ordered NSW Police to pay nearly $19,000 of Mr May’s legal costs after he determined the two charges of breaching an AVO were not properly investigated.

Police were also directed to pay another $1800 for unnecessary adjournments, bringing the total to $20,705.

An AVO against Mr May will remain in place for six months.

Mr May was smiling as he left the courthouse flanked by his lawyers and several supporters, but he refused to comment.

He was stood down indefinitely by the NRL on May 23, 2024 under the no-fault stand-down policy before he parted ways with the Penrith Panthers by mutual agreement in July.

The withdrawal of the domestic violence charges clears the way for Mr May to return to the NRL.