Matthew Newton - The Women basher
A conviction against entertainer Matthew Newton for assaulting his former
girlfriend Brooke Satchwell was quashed, shortly after a judge insisted he would
not receive special treatment because of his fame.
“If a conviction is recorded, it will continue to have a
life-long effect not only for his reputation in Australia but also his chances
overseas,” Mr Moore told Sydney’s Downing Centre District Court.
It seems that violence against
women is acceptable in the court system of Australia when you are a celebrity
(albeit a minor one).
This page was made to outline
the series of events leading up to his conviction. See below for the relevant
news articles.
Newton in court on assault charges
Posted Wed Jan 17, 2007 3:00pm AEDT
Updated Wed Jan 17, 2007 3:45pm AEDT
Matthew Newton has pleaded
not guilty to assaulting his former girlfriend Brooke Satchwell.
(Getty Images: Regis Martin)
Assault charges against actor Matthew Newton have been heard in
a Sydney court.
The 29-year-old son of Bert and Patti Newton is accused of assaulting his
former girlfriend, actress Brooke Satchwell.
Newton has pleaded not guilty to four charges, including assault occasioning
actual bodily harm.
He was not required to appear in Balmain Local Court in Sydney's inner-west
today.
His lawyer sought a variation of bail because Newton had moved to a new
address.
The case was adjourned until later this month, when a date will be set for a
three-day hearing.
News Link:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/01/17/1828601.htm
Newton assault charges to be heard in June
Posted Wed Jan 31, 2007 12:00pm
AEDT
Updated Wed Jan 31, 2007 2:49pm AEDT
Assault charges against the actor Matthew Newton will be heard
in a Sydney court in June.
The 30-year-old son of Bert Newton has pleaded not guilty to assaulting and
stalking his former girlfriend Brooke Satchwell at Rozelle in Sydney's inner
west last year.
Neither of them was required to appear in the Downing Centre local court
today when a date was set for a three day hearing.
Mr Newton remains on bail.
News Link:
http://abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/01/31/1836960.htm
3 Matthew Newton charges dropped, lawyers say
Posted Mon May 21, 2007 4:13pm AEST
Newton had earlier pleaded not
guilty to assaulting and stalking former girlfriend, Brooke Satchwell. (File
photo) (Getty Images: Regis Martin)
Lawyers for actor Matthew Newton say three of the four charges
he is facing will be withdrawn.
The 30-year-old son of Bert Newton had earlier pleaded not guilty to
assaulting and stalking his former girlfriend, Brooke Satchwell, at Rozelle in
Sydney's inner west last year.
Today his lawyers said prosecutors were withdrawing a charge of common
assault, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and intimidation.
He will face a remaining charge of common assault when the case returns to
court next week.
News Link:
http://abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/05/21/1928881.htm
Newton in 'breakdown' during assault
Posted Tue Jun 12, 2007 1:00pm AEST
Matthew Newton (R) pleaded guilty
to the assault of former girlfriend Brooke Satchwell (L). (File photo)
(Getty Images: Regis Martin)
A Sydney Court has heard actor Matthew Newton was suffering
from an "undetected breakdown" at the time he assaulted his former girlfriend,
TV star Brooke Satchwell.
In court today, Newton pleaded guilty to the assault of Satchwell
at their then home in Rozelle in Sydney's inner-west last September.
Three other charges were dropped against the 30-year-old son of TV stalwart
Bert Newton.
Matthew Newton's lawyer, Chris Murphy, told the Downing Centre Local Court
his client was suffering from an undisclosed emotional and psychological
condition at the time of the assault.
The court heard he is now regularly seeing a doctor to help address his
problems.
It heard Newton had lost work contracts worth $350,000 and had suffered an
enormous financial burden and public humiliation since he was charged.
The magistrate said he would hand down his sentence later this afternoon.
News Link:
http://abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/06/12/1948746.htm
No jail for Newton over assault
Posted Tue Jun 12, 2007 2:32pm AEST
Updated Tue Jun 12, 2007 3:27pm AEST
Guilty: Matthew Newton (left)
leaving court with his lawyer Chris Murphy. (ABC TV: ABC TV)
Actor Matthew Newton has been convicted and given a
12-month good behaviour bond for assaulting his former girlfriend, TV star
Brooke Satchwell.
The court also approved a protection order against Newton that he not stalk
or intimidate his ex-girlfriend.
Newton was dressed in a dark suit and stood silently as the magistrate read
his judgement.
He said he had no choice but to record a conviction in order to send a
strong message against domestic violence.
Earlier the court heard the 30-year-old son of TV stalwart Bert Newton was
suffering from an "undetected breakdown" at the time he assaulted Satchwell.
The actor pleaded guilty to assaulting Satchwell at their then home in
Rozelle in Sydney's inner-west last September.
Newton's lawyer, Chris Murphy, told the Downing Centre Local Court his client
was suffering from an undisclosed emotional and psychological condition at the
time of the assault.
The court heard he is now regularly seeing a doctor to help address his
problems.
It heard Newton had lost work contracts worth $350,000 and had suffered an
enormous financial burden, as well as public humiliation, since he was charged.
Three other charges were dropped against the actor.
News Link:
http://abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/06/12/1948934.htm
Newton to fight assault conviction
Posted Tue Jun 12, 2007 4:13pm AEST
Guilty: Matthew Newton was given
a 12-month good behaviour bond. (AAP: Tracey Nearmy)
Actor Matthew Newton will appeal against his conviction
for assaulting his former girlfriend, TV star Brooke Satchwell.
This morning, Newton pleaded guilty in a Sydney court to assaulting Satchwell
in their Sydney home last September.
He was given a 12-month good behaviour bond and ordered not to stalk or
intimidate his ex-girlfriend.
Outside the court, his lawyer Chris Murphy said his client did not believe a
conviction should have been recorded.
"The matter is still before the court. The defendant has lodged an appeal,"
he said.
"He's entitled to a hearing de novo, so there's nothing to be said, OK? The
matter is sub judice."
The magistrate said he had no choice but to record a conviction in order to
send a strong message against domestic violence.
Mr Murphy earlier told the court the 30-year-old son of Bert and Patti Newton
was suffering from an "undetected breakdown" when he assaulted Satchwell.
He said Newton was now regularly seeing a doctor to help address his
psychological and emotional problems.
The court heard Newton had lost work contracts worth $350,000 and had
suffered an enormous financial burden, as well as public humiliation, since he
was charged.
Three other charges were dropped against the actor.
News Link:
http://abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/06/12/1949178.htm
Assault conviction not recorded against Newton
Posted Tue Jul 17, 2007 6:47pm AEST
Matthew Newton has won an appeal
against the recording of his conviction for assault. (File photo) (AAP:
Tracey Nearmy)
Actor Matthew Newton has won an appeal against the severity of
his penalty for assaulting his former girlfriend.
In June, Newton pleaded guilty to assaulting Brooke Satchwell at their then
home in Rozelle in Sydney's inner-west last September.
He was placed on a 12-month good behaviour bond and had a criminal conviction
recorded.
Today in Sydney, a District Court judge upheld the appeal and said a
conviction would not be recorded.
News Link:
http://abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/07/17/1981003.htm
Newton's court treatment anger
Article from:
Zoe Taylor and Kim Arlington
July 18, 2007 12:00am
THE handling of
celebrities by the courts is at the centre of a new scandal after two stars
enjoyed the softest possible treatment yesterday - despite both freely
admitting their guilt of serious criminal offences.
A conviction against entertainer Matthew Newton for assaulting his former
girlfriend Brooke Satchwell was quashed, shortly after a judge insisted he
would not receive special treatment because of his fame.
Despite pleading guilty to attacking Satchwell, 26, during a violent
argument at their Rozelle home last year, Newton successfully appealed
against the conviction and a 12-month good behaviour bond.
There was a similar court outcome for pay-TV entertainment reporter Kathryn
Eisman, who also escaped a conviction after pleading guilty to drink
driving.
The glamorous blonde saw her case discharged at Waverley Local Court - and a
12-month good behaviour bond imposed instead.
In Newton's case, acting District Court Judge Joseph Moore said it was not
his talent as an entertainer or the fact he was the child of iconic parents
Bert and Pattie that resulted in his appeal being upheld.
Instead, it was his "mental illness" at the time, his punishment at the
hands of the media and 17 "extraordinary" personal references that swayed
the judge to quash the conviction.
"It does not in any way lead the court to give special consideration to his
case because he is a person of high profile," Judge Moore said.
"On the other side of the coin, when people reach a position of what could
be described as notoriety, they have an added responsibility to behave in a
certain manner.
"The way in which he has been given particular media attention has acted as
a considerable measure of punishment."
Newton pleaded guilty to assaulting Satchwell in September last year,
admitting he had punched and pushed her.
Yesterday he successfully argued he was mentally ill at the time.
Finding the assault was "out of character", Judge Moore took into account
Newton's mental state and glowing references from family, friends and
high-profile entertainment industry members.
The judge also found a conviction would have a
significant impact on Newton's career.
The actor's lawyer Chris Murphy claimed Newton suffered a "nervous
breakdown" at the time of the offence, when his six-year relationship with
Satchwell broke down.
Mr Murphy tendered a letter from Dr Robert Hampshire, Newton's psychiatrist,
which outlined his depressive illness and stated he was unlikely to reoffend.
News Link:
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22093816-5012980,00.html
Newton’s assault conviction quashed in Sydney court
17th July 2007, 12:00 WST
A Sydney judge has quashed an assault conviction against entertainer
Matthew Newton.
Mr Newton, 30, was placed on a 12-month good behaviour bond in June for the
assault of his former lover, actress Brooke Satchwell.
Mr Newton today appealed against the conviction, claiming the assault was a
one-off and partly due to ongoing mental health issues.
The son of Australian TV legends Bert and Patti Newton had pleaded guilty
to the assault charge.
During his sentencing hearing in June, the court was told Mr Newton punched
and pushed Ms Satchwell into a wall at their former home in Sydney’s Rozelle
on September 13 last year.
However, during that hearing, the court was also told Newton sought medical
help before and after the assault as he had realised he was suffering from
some sort of emotional problem or breakdown.
Acting Judge Joseph Moore today agreed with references tendered to the
court that described Mr Newton as a kind, giving gentleman.
“If a conviction is recorded, it will continue to have
a life-long effect not only for his reputation in Australia but also his
chances overseas,” Mr Moore told Sydney’s Downing Centre District Court.
“He has suffered severe shame personally and he feels remorse for the
attention he has brought on this family and friends.”
Mr Moore then upheld the appeal.
An apprehended violence order taken out against Mr Newton by police acting
on Ms Satchwell’s behalf remains unchanged.
AAP
News Link:
http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=24&ContentID=34645
