Deborah Hutton’s meditation guru friend wants to have charges over alleged choking attack on his ex-wife dismissed under the mental health act
- Andrew ‘Marshy’ Marsh to fight charges against ex-wife under mental health act
- He allegedly broke into the Bondi home before choking her on December 14
- Court documents claim Marsh drank wine and threatened self-harm at the time
- Marsh is a meditation guru and close friends with TV star Deborah Hutton
TV star Deborah Hutton’s meditation guru friend who allegedly choked his ex-wife during a home invasion could fight his assault charges under the mental health act.
Andrew ‘Marshy’ Marsh allegedly broke into the house while his ex-wife and another person were at the home in Bondi, Sydney’s eastern suburbs, on December 14.
He pleaded not guilty to choking and two counts of common assault and his case was listed for a hearing at Waverley Local Court on Friday.
Though magistrate Carolyn Huntsman said the case would be adjourned because of current Covid-19 restrictions.
Outside of court, his lawyer Paul McGirr said he intended to fight some of his client’s charges under section 32 of the Mental Health Act.
TV star Deborah Hutton’s (centre, with friend Andrew Marsh) meditation guru friend who allegedly choked his ex-wife during a home invasion could fight his assault charges under the mental health act
Andrew ‘Marshy’ Marsh allegedly broke into the house while his ex-wife and another person were at the home in Bondi, Sydney’s eastern suburbs, on December 14
‘We envisage making a mental health application in respect to parts of this matter,’ he told Daily Telegraph.
‘If the prosecution withdraws certain charges, it might be a Mental Health Act application on the remaining ones.’
Documents previously tendered to court alleged Marsh drank from a wine bottle and threatened self-harm during the incident last year.
The court heard that Marsh’s ex-wife sent six panic-stricken text messages saying ‘send help to the house now’.
Police prosecutors initially told the court Marsh ‘put one victim in a chokehold’.
‘The victims, your honour, are so scared when they find the accused is in the house they hide in the cupboard and attempt to find help,’ the prosecution told the court.
‘Putting one victim in a choke-hold, she states to police this makes her think she is going to die.’
Marsh was remanded in custody and spent Christmas behind bars before he was granted bail in January.
Under the strict conditions of his release is been barred from Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
Marsh is a wellness and meditation guru whose close friendship with TV personality Deborah Hutton has made headlines.
Marsh is a wellness and meditation guru whose close friendship with TV personality Deborah Hutton has made headlines
Although court papers initially listed Marsh’s home address as Hutton’s mansion, the media personality claimed this was not true.
‘Contrary to various media reports, Andrew Marsh is not living with me – I consider him a very dear friend and in what has been an incredibly challenging year for Andrew, I offered him my full support during the breakdown of his marriage as he had nowhere to go,’ she said.
‘This is totally out of character for him and I’m shocked at what has unfolded over the past few days and hope that Andrew is able to receive the help he clearly needs.’
Marsh was last year convicted on a charge of cocaine possession, but escaped with no additional penalty.