Michael Slater returns to hospital after dismissing domestic violence charges

Michael Slater is the subject of a new police investigation into an alleged incident of domestic violence, just hours before similar charges were dropped on mental health grounds.

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Slater was due to appear at Waverley District Court in Sydney on Wednesday morning as he seeks to face a series of domestic abuse charges under the Mental Health Act.

However, the former cricketer star did not appear alongside his lawyer, with police prosecutor Sergeant Lachlan Kirby telling the court that Slater was arrested by police and paramedics on Tuesday night and taken to a mental health facility on Sydney’s northern beaches.

New South Wales Police said in a statement they were called to Manley’s unit after an alleged domestic violence incident.

However, no charges were brought against Slater.

“At approximately 9.20pm (Tuesday April 26, 2022), officers attached to North Beaches District Police Command were called to a unit in West Promenade, Manly, following reports of an incident relating to the domestic violence,” NSW Police said in a statement. .

“Upon arrival, police were informed that a 52-year-old man had assaulted a 35-year-old woman.”

Police said Slater and the woman “knew each other” and investigations are continuing while he is in hospital for evaluation.

Judge Ross Hudson was unaware of the new police investigation Wednesday morning when he ruled that Slater’s charges were being dealt with on the basis of mental health rather than criminal law.

Slater’s attorney, Richard Puntello, appeared via video link and agreed that Mr. Hudson would make his decision in Slater’s absence.

Slater was accused of using a mobile phone to harass his ex-partner between March and October last year, as well as harassing and bullying the woman at Randwick.

According to a police statement seen by NCA Newswire, the woman went to Waverley Police Station on October 19 last year and requested that an anticipatory violence prevention order be issued against Slater, with who she had previously had a relationship with.

Police trials have previously told the court they are “in control”.

He was charged with using a transport service to threaten, harass, abuse and stalk/intimidate with intent to instill fear following an alleged domestic violence incident at his home.

In December, he was rearrested in Manly, charged with breaching an expected violence prevention order and also charged with using a transportation service to threaten, harass or intimidate his former partner.

The court heard that Slater sent at least 66 text messages and made at least 18 phone calls to his ex-partner for about two and a half hours on the night of December 14.

The court heard that her ex-partner blocked her number but sent her a slew of messages via WhatsApp while logging in as ‘MJS’.

Pontelau told the court last week that Slater had major depressive disorder and ADHD at the time of the offense, but is now in remission.

The court also heard his drinking relapse.

Last Friday, Mr Pontelau told the court that Mr Slater had spent 108 days in the rehabilitation center from January to March this year.

He said it was in the public interest that he be treated under the Mental Health Act so that he could continue his treatment.

Police prosecutors objected to the request to process the charges on mental health grounds, citing their seriousness and the fact that he had been released on bail at the time of the second charges.

Mr Hudson said there was a need to deter domestic abuse that happens “behind closed doors”.

Mr Hudson said that prior to committing the offence, Slater’s mental health deteriorated in India during the Covid pandemic, as well as while he was in hotel quarantine on his return to the country .

He said Slater also used alcohol to deal with his depression after his relationship broke up.

Last year he was dropped from Channel Seven’s cricket coverage after a series of tweets targeting Prime Minister Scott Morrison while he was in the Maldives when the Indian Premier League was suspended.

Hudson described Mr Slater’s behavior as a “meltdown” and signs of deteriorating mental health.

He noted that Mr. Slater had sought treatment for his mental health.

“He is seriously ill and has done a great job since then, and he should be very proud of that,” he said.

He decided that the charges would be dealt with under the Mental Health Act and ordered Mr. Slater to stick to the 12-month treatment plan.

Mr Slater will also be subject to his former partner’s AVO for five years.

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