Sydney real estate agent, named Karl Adon Howard, was remanded in custody after he allegedly tried to kill a 29-year-old woman on Monday.
He punched the woman repeatedly in the head and tried to murder another, according to the court. The accused attacked the woman with a samurai sword. The women’s lawyer said Howard took four Viagra pills before the attack.
Anthony Sissian, one of the women’s attorneys, told the court, “The only reason for a person … [taking] four Viagra pills before strangling and forcing his tongue down someone’s throat is he must have had a sexual intent.”
Sissian argued the court could make a non-publication order (NPO) to avoid causing undue distress or embarrassment to parties in offenses of a sexual nature.
He said disclosure of the women’s names would expose the women to “further significant, undue distress in addition to the extreme physical and psychological trauma they have already experienced. To do so would be cruel, inhumane and unnecessary,” according to The Guardian.
The court heard that Howard allegedly punched the younger woman in the head four times before she escaped “by chance.”
Sissian said, “I hate to think if he didn’t slip over and he did get to carry out his will.”
Howard allegedly fled the home but he was later arrested in a nearby street.
John Sutton, Howard’s lawyer, told reporters outside the court, “He’s got various physical injuries of his own, he’s undergone surgery and we’re just awaiting outcomes to understand what the doctors say.”
Sutton went on to say he is yet to have a detailed discussion with Howard due to the ongoing medical treatment.
Howard, who is a principal of Ray White Balmain, was stood down from the business on Monday and keeps that status “pending the resolution of the charges against him”, according to a Ray White spokesperson.
“The Ray White Group is an Australian family-owned and led business and it expects a high standard of personal conduct from its members,” the spokesperson said. “We do not condone violence in any form. We are concerned for the wellbeing of all involved and staff are being offered counseling services.” The story was published Wednesday in The Guardian.
