Andrew O’Keefe denied bail

Former TV presenter Andrew O’Keefe has been denied bail in Central Local Court this afternoon.

The former Seven star was arrested yesterday morning following an alleged altercation with a 38-year-old woman at his Kent Street apartment in Sydney.

O’Keefe, 50, is charged with six offences, intentionally choking a person without consent (two counts), common assault (three counts), and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

“A verbal argument ensued between the pair, before the man allegedly assaulted the woman — grabbing her by the throat, pushing her to the ground and punching her,” a police statement read.

“The man allegedly assaulted the woman a second time — punching and kicking her — before she left the unit.”

O’Keefe was assessed by a clinician before today’s court appearance. He appeared via video link.

O’Keefe’s lawyer Sharon Ramsden asked for him to be freed on bail to go into residential psychiatric care next week. She said he had suffered injuries in the alleged incident and would be claiming self defence when the case went to trial.

But the prosecution warned O’Keefe could be facing a lengthy jail term if convicted and dismissed the claims of self-defence.

‘The only way she was able to break free was to bite the arm of the accused,” said police prosecutor Sergeant Chris Manning.

‘The incident went on for a significant period of time.”

Police have applied for a provisional apprehended violence order, which would see him barred from approaching, assaulting, threatening, stalking, harassing or intimidating the woman in any way.

O’Keefe has previously acknowledged bipolar and struggles with drugs & alcohol, as also been an ambassador for the White Ribbon Foundation. The organisation went into liquidation in 2019 and was relaunched in 2020 without O’Keefe.

He is due to appear in court on Friday February 4. An AVO hearing will be heard at Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday February 2.

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Source: Daily Mail, ABC