Sam Burgess has won a major legal victory when he will appear in court next week to tackle allegations he intimidated his father-in-law.
A judge has ruled that the retired NRL star’s lawyers received cited material detailing how unrelated allegations of drugs and violence were made public in the media.
Burgess, 31, is due to appear in Moss Vale County Court Monday on charges of alleged disturbance on his father-in-law’s property, Mitchell Hookes Southern Highlands.
Mr Burgess has pleaded not guilty to charges of intimidation and charges of assault due to an alleged confrontation in October last year.
He has also issued an arrested force order against him.
At the same time, Mr Burgess is also fighting allegations of domestic violence and drug use, which were contained in the 50-page statement made by his estranged wife Phoebe Burgess to the police.
Her claims and testimony of Mr. Hooke were later published in The Australian.
Mr Burgess has denied all allegations, and his lawyers accused the couple of having ulterior motives and being “biased” against the former double international.
Judge Ian Cheetham granted his attorneys access to all documents relating to Ms. Burgess and Mr. Hooke’s communications with The Australian on the Friday before the story was published last month.
Mr Burgess’ attorney, Bryan Wrench, previously informed the court that Ms. Burgess filed the complaint with the police six weeks after Mr Burgess made an application to another court.
Mr. Wrench also previously stated that Ms. Burgess was acting out of “malice or retaliation” when making the statement to the police.
Magistrate Cheetham’s decision will allow Mr. Burgess’ attorneys to investigate Ms. Burgess as to why she made public the harmful allegations of domestic violence.
She also alleged that Mr Burgess tested positive for MDMA and that the test was presented to a pathologist under an assumed name as part of a cover-up by South Sydney.
Mr Burgess has vigorously denied all claims.
Mr Burgess will appear in person in Moss Vale District Court on Monday, where he will respond to allegations that he intimidated Mr Hooke, the former CEO of the Minerals Council of Australia, after an alleged dispute escalated and the police were called.
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