Andrew O’Keefe seeks to have assault case dealt with on mental health grounds
Former Channel Seven star Andrew O’Keefe has been in hospital since late last month and will seek to have an assault charge dealt with on mental health grounds, a court has heard.
Mr O’Keefe, 49, the former host of Weekend Sunrise and The Chase Australia, is accused of assaulting his partner Orly Lavee at a Randwick apartment between 11pm and 11.30pm on January 30.
Former Channel Seven star Andrew O’Keefe.Credit:Dominic Loneragan
Police attended the apartment at about 1am on January 31, following reports a 41-year-old woman had been assaulted.
Mr O’Keefe was arrested about 3.30am and taken to Maroubra police station, where he was charged with common assault and granted bail.
When the matter was first mentioned in court earlier this month, Mr O’Keefe’s lawyer indicated that he will be disputing that he was the aggressor in the situation.
On Thursday, Mr O’Keefe was represented by a new lawyer, who handed up documents to Waverley Local Court detailing that he is currently an involuntary inpatient at Prince of Wales Hospital.
Magistrate Ross Hudson said the documents indicate that he has been at the hospital since late January.
“I’m instructed to request this matter be set down for a section 32 application,” Mr O’Keefe’s lawyer said.
Under section 32 of the Mental Health (Forensic Provisions) Act 1990 (NSW), a magistrate can dismiss a charge and order a person to attend treatment if it is found they have a mental illness or are suffering a mental health condition which can be treated in a facility.
Mr O’Keefe’s lawyer indicated that if the mental health application is unsuccessful her client will enter a plea of guilty.
She said there is currently a dispute as to the facts of the case.
Magistrate Hudson adjourned the case to allow material to be collected to support Mr O’Keefe’s mental health application.
He said if the application is unsuccessful, Mr O’Keefe will be sentenced that day instead.
The case will return to court on April 20.
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Georgina Mitchell is a court reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald.