NRL star Dylan Walker had a fight with his fiancee about a PlayStation before yanking her ponytail, causing her to fall onto a concrete driveway while holding a baby, a court has been told.
Walker, 24, has pleaded not guilty to domestic violence-related assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and the backup charge of common assault, after Alexandra Ivkovic suffered cuts to her shoulder, leg and feet.
The alleged attack occurred outside a Dee Why home on Sydney’s northern beaches between 4.45pm and 5pm on December 6, according to court documents. The Sea Eagles centre was arrested at 5.15pm.
Police have taken out an apprehended violence order on behalf of Ivkovic.
Walker arrived hand-in-hand with his partner on Tuesday for a hearing at Manly Local Court, where barrister Richard Pontello said five defence witnesses will be called.
Senior constable Clare Scully, one of the responding officers, was the first of eight prosecution witnesses to take the stand.
She said she received an email from Ivkovic asking “to make a retraction” but didn’t act on it as she spoke to domestic violence officers who said the 24-year-old woman had sought legal advice.
In footage from senior constable Scully’s body-worn camera taken inside neighbour Lauren O’Sullivan’s house, Ivkovic tells police Walker had been playing a game on his PlayStation.
“I asked if he wanted a fork or a spoon with his dinner,” she says. “He was really pissed off because I interrupted.”
The court was also played a recording of Ivkovic’s triple zero call to police. In it, she tells the operator “he pulled my hair and I fell down”.
Ivkovic says she doesn’t want to be alone with Walker and that “he’s scaring me” but is reassured police with lights and sirens are on their way.
Ex-Sea Eagles player Matt Ballin, Manly general manager of football John Bonasera and media manager Wayne Cousins sat in the public gallery on Tuesday.
The hearing before magistrate Michelle Goodwin continues.