Chef Ethan Graham Riley arrested on choking charges

Video footage of an alleged attack, where a head chef at an up-market cafe is accused of choking a woman during an argument, has been mentioned in court.

A head chef at a ritzy Maroochydore cafe has been remanded in custody after video footage of an attack where he allegedly choked a woman during a heated argument is mentioned in court.

Ethan Graham Riley appeared in Maroochydore Magistrates Court via videolink for his part-heard bail application on November 17.

Mr Riley faces a lone charge of choking (domestic violence offence) and first appeared in court on Monday, November 14, but had his matter adjourned after Magistrate Rod Madsen said he needed more information from police and the alleged evidence.

The court was told on November 14 that Mr Riley was accused of choking a woman during a fight which spilled out onto a Maroochydore street on October 29.

Police prosecutor James Allen told the court the fight continued in the door of the woman’s car as she tried to leave, when Mr Riley allegedly grabbed her “around the throat with both hands”.

Mr Allen said the alleged victim felt “fear and rage” and spat at him as he allegedly pushed her back by the throat while she lay across the centre console in the car.

Ethan Graham Riley. Picture: Facebook

The court heard the woman was able to push him away and eventually leave after Mr Riley jumped on the bonnet of her car and chased her vehicle on foot.

On November 17, during Mr Riley’s part-heard bail application, Magistrate Rod Madsen said video footage of the alleged attack showed it was “pretty clear (the woman) was trying to get away”.

Mr Allen previously told the court the evidence against Mr Riley was strong and also cited warrants for the Maroochydore man’s arrest in Tasmania.

Duty lawyer Michael Robinson said Mr Riley denies the choking and was instructed it was a push in the shoulder as he resisted the alleged assault from the woman.

Mr Robinson said it was a “relatively leisurely investigation”, saying Mr Riley hadn’t left the area and originally called police himself after the incident.

The court was told Mr Riley was the head chef at a ritzy Duporth Ave cafe.

His bail was denied, and he will return to Maroochydore Magistrates Court for committal mention on February 24, 2023.

Originally published as Chef Ethan Graham Riley arrested on choking charges