Michael Slater hospitalised
<p dir="ltr">Australian cricketer Michael Slater has been hospitalised as domestic violence charges against him were dismissed on mental health grounds.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Police prosecutor Sergeant Lachlan Kirby told Waverley Local Court - where Mr Slater was due to appear to appeal the charges - that the cricketer had been detained by police and paramedics on Tuesday night and taken to a mental health facility on the Northern Beaches.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The 52-year-old had appealed for the charges to be dealt with under the Mental Health Act prior to his hospitalisation.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Mr Slater’s barrister, Richard Pontello, appeared at the hearing via video link and consented to Magistrate Ross Hudson making his decision in Mr Slater’s absence, according to <em><a href="https://www.news.com.au/sport/cricket/michael-slater-taken-to-hospital-for-mental-health-reasons/news-story/9fa4583372622f38084df48f0d4d7214" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news.com.au</a></em>.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The former Test cricketer was first charged <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/cricket-legend-michael-slater-arrested" target="_blank" rel="noopener">late last year</a> for allegedly using a mobile phone to harass his former partner between March and October, as well as stalking and intimidating her in Randwick on October 12 and 13.</p>
<p dir="ltr">He was arrested for a second time in December and charged with contravening an Apprehended Violence Order (AVO), as well as another charge of using a carriage service to menace, harass or intimidate his former partner.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Mr Slater sent 66 messages and called his ex 18 times in a period of two-and-a-half hours on the night of December 14, the court heard.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The court also heard that although his former partner blocked his number, Mr Slater sent multiple messages to her via WhatsApp that were signed under the name “MJS”.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Last week, Mr Pontello told the court Mr Slater was suffering from several mental illnesses, including major depressive disorder and ADHD at the time of the offences, but was in remission.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Mr Pontello previously told the court Mr Slater spent 108 days in a rehabilitation facility between January and March this year, and argued that it was in the public interest for Mr Slater to be dealt with under the Mental Health Act so his treatment could continue.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The police prosecution opposed the application due to the seriousness of the charges and the fact that he was out on bail for the second round of charges.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Mr Hudson noted that Mr Slater was seeking treatment for his mental health before ruling that the charges be dealt with under the Mental Health Act.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“He has a significant illness and has done significant work since that period of time, and he should be proud of that,” Mr Hudson said.</p>
<p dir="ltr">He ordered Mr Slater abide by a treatment plan for 12 months.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Mr Slater will also be the subject of an AVO from his former partner for five years.</p>
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<p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>
