Michael Slater Handed Suspended Prison Sentence for Domestic Violence Offences

Michael Slater Handed Suspended Prison Sentence for Domestic Violence Offences

Former Australian Test cricketer Michael Slater has been handed a four-year prison sentence for a string of domestic violence offences but will be released immediately under a suspended sentence, following more than a year in custody.

The 55-year-old was sentenced on Tuesday in Maroochydore District Court after pleading guilty to seven charges, including two counts of choking a woman. Other charges included assault, stalking, burglary, and sending abusive messages, all stemming from incidents that occurred on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast in December 2023.

Slater's release faced a potential delay as his legal team scrambled to resolve a separate charge of drink and drug driving. However, he later pleaded guilty to that offence in Maroochydore Magistrates Court, clearing the way for his release.

Judge Glen Cash sentenced Slater to four years in prison, with the time already served taken into account. The remainder of the sentence has been suspended for five years, meaning Slater will be free but risks being returned to custody if he commits another serious offence during that time.

Slater had previously been denied bail multiple times and spent over 12 months behind bars. During earlier hearings, his legal representatives highlighted his long-standing battle with mental health issues and substance abuse. Supreme Court Justice Paul Freeburn, in an August 2024 hearing, was told of Slater’s diagnoses, including alcohol use disorder.

Defence barrister Gregory McGuire had argued at the time for Slater’s release under conditions that included entering a rehabilitation facility in New South Wales.

“He was clearly in the grip of a terrible alcohol addiction,” McGuire told the court.

Slater’s troubled legal history includes a 2022 conviction in New South Wales for common assault and breaching a restraining order. In that case, Slater was described as “drunk and erratic” when he yanked a woman by the hoodie, causing her to fall into a kitchen benchtop. He went on to contact her more than 100 times in violation of a court order.

Slater rose to prominence as an opening batter for Australia during the 1993 Ashes tour. He played 74 Test matches, scoring 5312 runs at an average of 42.83 with 14 centuries. He also represented Australia in 42 One Day Internationals before retiring from international cricket in 2004 and moving into a television commentary career.

His fall from grace has been marked by ongoing legal troubles, substance abuse, and mental health struggles. While now released from custody, Slater remains under strict legal conditions for the next five years.

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