Ex-TV host’s ‘degrading’ attack on woman

Former TV host and ambassador for the prevention of domestic violence, Andrew O’Keefe, says he is “very disappointed” after losing a bid to overturn his convictions for a “degrading” attack on a woman.

He appeared before Sydney Downing Centre District Court on Monday to learn the outcome of his appeal against his convictions for a string of domestic violence and drug offences.

The former Deal or No Deal host was found guilty and sentenced to a 12-month and three 18-month community corrections orders in January after the magistrate ruled he had inflicted a “frightening and degrading” attack on a woman.

The court was told O’Keefe got into an argument with the woman after she accused him of slandering her child in September 2021.

The woman said O’Keefe pushed her against a door, injuring her wrist and hand, before kicking her and digging his nails into her skin.

She told police he then told her “good riddance” and tried to spit on her as she left.

During the argument, O’Keefe allegedly told the woman: “Nice acting, I barely touched you.”

The former Weekend Sunrise host claimed the woman had inflicted the injuries on herself or sustained them when he “accidentally” fell on top of her during the argument.

During his appeal, his barrister Phillip Boulten SC told the court there were two “competing versions” of the events.

On Monday, Judge John Pickering dismissed the former Deal or No Deal host’s “implausible” explanation that the victim had been untruthful.

“I struggle to see any aspect of a motive to lie here,” he said.

“I do not in any way think the complainant just evilly made this up.”

The judge highlighted the victim’s reluctance to report the attack to police or to a neighbour who had come to check on her after hearing a commotion.

“It really speaks against her having this evil intent against him as put by senior counsel on his behalf,” Judge Pickering said.

He concluded O’Keefe had known he would need to provide an explanation when police arrived at the scene and he was “savvy enough to immediately blame her for her injuries”.

O’Keefe had admitted to spitting in the woman’s eye during a previous altercation in January that the judge said revealed a “loss of-self control” and a tendency to act in a “particularly aggressive” manner.

“His tendency was to spit, to commit a low demeaning act towards her,” Judge Pickering said in a scathing assessment of the former host’s behaviour.

O’Keefe became agitated in court, making noises of dissent and shaking his head as the judgment was delivered.

He previously railed against domestic violence offences as the chairman of the White Ribbon Australia organisation, which aims to prevent violence against women.

The 52-year-old was an ambassador for the charity from its inception in 2007 until it was dissolved in 2019.

He is now a convicted domestic violence offender after the judge dismissed his appeals against two convictions for domestic violence-related assaults and one contravention of an apprehended violence order.

The former host of The Chase also appealed his conviction for possessing an illegal drug mephedrone, known as “meow meow”.

Judge Pickering found there was reasonable doubt about whether O’Keefe had any knowledge of the drug being stored inside his apartment.

He upheld the appeal and quashed the drug conviction.

O’Keefe has waged a public battle against drug addiction and has been in and out of rehabilitation centres for the past three years.

During his sentencing, the local court magistrate found his drug addiction had “robbed him” of his successful and high-profile media career and happy marriage.

Outside court, O’Keefe told journalists he was “very disappointed” with the judgment but he wouldn’t continue to fight it.

He denied he got upset inside the courtroom but blamed perceived issues with the justice system for the loss of his appeal.

Cairns Regional Domestic Violence Service 4033 6100

Women’s Centre FNQ Domestic and Family Violence Service 4051 9366

DVConnect Womensline 1800 811 811

DVConnect Mensline 1800 600 636

1800 RESPECT (sexual assault) 1800 737 732

Sexual Assault Helpline 1800 010 120

Kids Helpline 1800 551 800

Relationships Australia – Far North Queensland 1300 364 277

In an emergency, call 000