NRL star Curtis Scott allegedly threatened to kill former partner and himself: court

A troubled NRL star allegedly assaulted and made horrific threats to his former girlfriend during a “tumultuous” relationship, a court has heard.

Former NRL star Curtis Scott drove his car into a tree in an attempt to kill himself while on the phone to his former partner, during which he also threatened to kill her, a court has heard.

The 24-year-old is facing a hearing at Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court, where he has denied assaulting and threatening his ex-partner Tay-Leiha Clark on multiple occasions throughout their relationship.

It has been alleged that during one phone call, Mr Scott told Ms Clark “I’m going to f***ing kill you” – with the court hearing on Tuesday that several of her family members listened in.

Ms Clark’s mother, Renae Clark, told the hearing before Magistrate Daniel Covington on Tuesday that she had witnessed the 45-minute conversation.

The conversation occurred on March 31, 2019 and Renae Clark described to the court how Mr Scott had “degraded” and “demoralised” her daughter, as well as threatened to kill her during the call.

“He said to her, ‘I’m going to fucking kill you, you c-word,’” Renae Clark said.

Ms Clark’s family members listened in on the conversation, unbeknown to Mr Scott.

At the same time, the family was on the phone to a Melbourne Storm staff member, who asked that they try to keep him on the line so they could find him and get him help.

Ms Clark said that Mr Scott told her daughter he was going to kill himself and it was “her fault”.

Former NRL star Curtis Scott has denied assaulting his former girlfriend. Picture: Gaye Gerard / NCA NewsWire

Renae Clark said she heard a crash and later found out he had driven into a tree in an attempt to kill himself.

She told the court she heard “grunting” on the end of the line and the muffled voices of people coming to his aid.

The court has been told Mr Scott allegedly pushed Ms Clark in the chest several times, shoulder-barged her and choked her by the collar of her pyjamas.

He is also accused of placing his hands around Ms Clark’s neck and headbutting her while pushing her onto the floor and wall, causing her to sustain a graze on her arm.

He was charged with four counts of common assault, stalk or intimidate with the intention of causing fear or physical harm, intentionally choke a person without consent, two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and intentionally choke a person with recklessness.

Defence barrister Slade Howell said he “vehemently” denies Mr Scott “ever physically assaulted, strangled or threatened to kill” Ms Clark.

Under cross examination from Mr Howell, Ms Clark disagreed that she had misunderstood what was being said and that Mr Scott had only threatened to kill himself during the phone call.

Tay-Leiha Clark was allegedly first assaulted in October 2018. Picture: Instagram

Ms Clark, a Youth Olympics medallist and social media star with more than 65,000 followers, has alleged that the offences occurred in the six months before the couple broke up.

Renae Clark further alleged that during another incident she woke up in her home around 2-3am to hear noises downstairs.

She said that when she opened the door into her lounge room she found her daughter on the floor, up against a wall, with Mr Scott “standing over the top of her”.

She said she noticed her daughter had a red mark or lump on her head, was cradling her arm and had “fear” in her voice.

Ms Clark said that Mr Scott tried to leave the house, but she sent her husband out to get him.

“I said to my husband ‘go and get him, he’s just attacked her’,” Renae Clark said.

Mr Scott was sacked by Canberra last year. Picture: Rohan Thomson / Getty Images

A woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told the court on Tuesday that she witnessed a separate late-night incident at Lake Conjola on the NSW south coast.

At one point during the woman’s testimony, one of Mr Scott’s female supporters had to be warned by Mr Covington about laughing.

The woman said that she saw Mr Scott walk into Ms Clark, causing her to fall to the ground, which the woman witnessed through a car windshield in the driveway of the holiday home.

The woman told the court she saw Mr Scott grab Ms Clark by the shirt as she lay on the ground and her head “flop”.

“She seemed groggy, as if she had just come out of a concussion,” the woman told the court.

Mr Scott was part of the Storm’s 2017 premiership-winning team which defeated North Queensland and their grand final side the following year.

During his 71-game NRL career, he was at one point spoken about as a NSW State of Origin prospect.

Mr Scott was sacked by Canberra last year and was hoping to resurrect his career with Parramatta before he was charged.