Fallen TV star Andrew O’Keefe to remain behind bars for at least two more weeks

Fallen TV star Andrew O’Keefe’s bid to be released from jail will not be heard until at least March, a court has heard.

Former Channel 7 host Andrew O'Keefe. Picture: Jeremy Piper

Fallen TV star Andrew O’Keefe’s bid to be released from jail will not be heard until at least March, a court has heard.

O’Keefe has been in custody for 18 nights after being arrested and charged in January for allegedly choking, punching and pushing a woman to the ground. Police also allege he ­assaulted her a second time by further punching and kicking her.

Registrar George Galanis told the NSW Supreme Court “dates are pretty limited” when O’Keefe’s lawyer, Lindsay Stankovic, requested a hearing date for the end of February.

On Friday, police laid an additional charge of breaching an apprehended violence order, with O’Keefe also pleading guilty to possessing 1.5g of cannabis, and not guilty to six other charges.

On Monday, the court heard affidavits and submissions in support of O’Keefe’s release had already been filed to the court by his lawyers, with an updated application also filed on Friday.

Last week he completed two weeks’ mandatory Covid-19 protective quarantine in the Metropolitan Remand Centre, ­in Silverwater Prison. The Australian revealed his lawyers are so desperate to get him out of prison and into a health facility that they filed an application in the NSW Supreme Court – over which his late father, respected judge and barrister Barry O’Keefe, presided.

Sources close to O’Keefe say he needs “urgent mental health treatment” – which can’t be ­administered inside a prison – and fear for his safety.

In recent years the former host of The Chase has been in and out of rehab and psychiatric hospitals.

O’Keefe’s matter was relisted for a procedural mention for February 21.