John Balafas: Charges withdrawn against disgraced Bondi doctor
A disgraced doctor has had an assault charge dropped after the woman who was alleged to have been the victim said she did not want to give evidence, a court has heard.
Dr John Balafas, 48, on Thursday had two charges withdrawn inside Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court.
Dressed in a grey suit and flanked by his lawyers, Balafas arrived at court to fight two charges of assault occasioning bodily harm and contravening an AVO.
However the court heard that the female complainant in the matter had written to the court saying she did not want to take part in proceedings and had provided a medical certificate saying she was suffering from PTSD.
The Crown prosecution applied to adjourn the matter saying that with time the woman may wish to give evidence.
The application was opposed by Balafas’ barrister Chris McGorey.
The court heard that the woman had not given a statement to police about the matter and had provided conflicting accounts to a witness, a police officer and social worker.
Magistrate John Arm told the court that the woman felt “let down” by the system and did not wish to be involved in the matter.
He refused the application to adjourn the matter, resulting in the prosecution dropping the assault and contravening an AVO charges.
Last year the Bondi medical professional pleaded guilty to separate charges of intimidating a woman by approaching her with an axe.
The court previously heard, he grabbed at the woman’s phone and pushed her in the arm. He then lunged at her and broke a glass, which shattered on her legs.
The Bondi local was “highly intoxicated” at the time, according to the documents tendered to the court.
Nine months later, court documents show, he was drunk again when he hit the woman with a “big punch” to her arm and grabbed it.
Solicitor Michael Hempsall previously told the court his client was suffering substance abuse and mental health issues at the time of the attacks.
He pleaded guilty to intimidation, common assault and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
He will return to court at a later date.
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