Former Weekend Sunrise host lost an appeal last week against his convictions for domestic violence, which included charges of common assault, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and breaching an apprehended violence order. The judge found that he had a tendency to spit at the woman in a demeaning manner and that her injuries were consistent with being kicked, pushed, and scratched during a violent incident in September 2021. Despite the appeal being dismissed, O’Keefe expressed disappointment outside Sydney’s Downing Centre District Court.
Judge John Pickering stated that O’Keefe’s behavior at the time of his arrest, captured on police body camera footage, was irrelevant to the consideration of his appeal, as he had been acquitted of resisting arrest by the magistrate. The footage showed O’Keefe shouting at police officers while being arrested at his CBD apartment, claiming that the situation was a result of him not having his medication. Additionally, he was found guilty of possessing mephedrone, a prohibited drug commonly known as “meow meow”, and fined $500. However, the judge found reasonable doubt regarding the possession of the drug, leading to the conviction being quashed.
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