A troubled private school graduate who went on a destructive rampage at his father’s $5.5million terrace just a month after allegedly being stabbed by his own mother is now in rehab, a court heard.
Two days after Christmas, Hugo Ball, 22, was arrested and charged with ‘recklessly or intentionally’ damaging the plantation shutters of former CEO Ian Ball’s stately five-bedroom inner Sydney terrace.
Police said the destruction occurred between 9.30 and 9.53am that morning, but granted Hugo bail after banning him from going near his father’s $5.5million Paddington home.
Hugo was living with his dad after his mum, Samantha Palmer, allegedly stabbed him at their Bellevue Hill mansion in mid-November.
But he now has a different residence, his solicitor Alicia Catron told the Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday.
Martial arts aficionado and labourer Hugo Ball, 22, was seen enjoying a six pack of Sol beer with friends weeks after he was allegedly stabbed by his mother Samantha Palmer
Ball had been living at his father Ian’s $5.5 million terrace, which actress Toni Colette once reportedly once bid on, when destruction occurred. He pleaded guilty via a lawyer on Wednesday. Above, the shutters
The troubled young man is seen above with his his British-born father, British-born corporate high flyer and former Cardno CEO Ian Ball. He is still allowed to speak to him on the phone
‘He’s not (here) Your Honour, he’s in rehab,’ Ms Catron told the Downing Centre Local Court.
Ms Catron entered a guilty plea for Hugo to the charge of destroy or damage property with a value of less than $2000.
The stint in rehab will last for six weeks, she told the court, while his defence and the prosecution negotiate over the court facts for his sentencing.
The lawyer did not say why Hugo was in rehab. A previous court hearing was told he has suffered drug addictions, including to ice, heroin and Valium.
Hugo’s father sought to change the conditions of an apprehended violence order that was taken out on his father’s behalf.
Mr Ball senior told Deputy Chief Magistrate Jane Mottley that his relationship with his son was ‘generally, good’.
The AVO had banned the young man from going within 50m of Mr Ball’s house or workplace, but allowed them to speak on the phone.
Hugo, a labourer, had been recovering at his father’s home after Palmer, 55, allegedly stabbed him to the back with a 12 inch kitchen knife.
The alleged attack resulted in him losing two litres of blood, paramedics said. Palmer’s case remains before the courts.
She was granted bail a week before Christmas after more than a month on remand at Silverwater Women’s Prison.
The family’s 2019 Christmas celebrations (above) were no doubt very different in 2020 – with Palmer only recently released from prison on bail and Ball recovering from his injuries
Ball is seen being stretchered out of his mother and stepfather’s $3.1 million home in mid-November. He lost two litres of blood, paramedics said
Palmer is seen in a floral dress upon her release from Silverwater Women’s Prison just before Christmas. It was her first time ever in custody, a court heard
Palmer’s lawyers have previously told a court that Ball had arrived home shortly after 1am on the Saturday morning that she allegedly stabbed him.
He was hours late for his curfew, was apparently ‘incoherent’ and said something to his mother about being involved in a murder.
Palmer is then alleged to have attacked her son.
At last month’s bail hearing for Palmer, police prosecutor Kerry-Ann McKinnon said there was a ‘strong prosecution case’ against her.
Sgt McKinnon said Ball was stabbed from behind to his back, shoulders and rear of his neck.
‘We say this is an unprovoked attack on her own son,’ Sgt McKinnon told the court, adding that alcohol was a factor.
An injured but still standing Ball at his father’s house, shortly after being discharged from hospital and prior to the alleged incident two days after Christmas
But Ms Palmer’s lawyer Justin Wong said the case against Palmer was ‘not strong.’
Ball has refused to give NSW Police a formal statement about the events of that night, Mr Wong noted.
Palmer was granted bail after offering up $200,000 of the equity of her home as surety, and agreeing to conditions which barred her from drinking or using drugs.
A separate Palmer bail hearing in November heard that Ball has struggled with drug abuse since graduating from his $33,000-a-year school.