NRL star Dylan Walker was acquitted of domestic violence charges last month, but his legal battle may not be over.
NSW Police prosecutors have revealed they have taken the first steps to appeal the not guilty verdict, the Daily Telegraph has reported.
Police confirmed they have asked the Director of Public Prosecutions to consider challenging the decision and will file an appeal if the DPP finds it is worth pursuing.
The 24-year-old Manly Sea Eagles star had pleaded not guilty to a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm after his Miss Universe finalist fiancee, Alexandra Ivkovic, suffered grazes to her shoulder, leg and feet in December.
NSW Police prosecutors have revealed they have taken the first steps to appeal NRL star Dylan Walker’s acquittal
The 24-year-old Manly Sea Eagles star had pleaded not guilty to a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm after his Miss Universe finalist fiancee, Alexandra Ivkovic
He had earlier denied pulling his fiancee’s ponytail and causing her to fall down on a concrete driveway with a baby in her arms, instead claiming he simply ‘touched her shoulder … then she fell’.
The Manly Sea Eagles centre also pleaded not guilty to a backup charge of common assault.
During the hearing at Manly Local Court in May, Magistrate Michelle Goodwin told the court: ‘I am simply not satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt of the guilt of Mr Walker.’
The athlete will also front court again for an AVO hearing on July 23, but the nature of the hearing is unknown, according to the publication.
Days after the his charges were dismissed, Walker broke down in tears while discussing the backlash he faced in a joint interview with Ivkovic.
‘There were some dark days with it, we just sort of had to lean on each other,’ Walker told Nine News.
‘There was never an issue, you’re going to support your partner,’ Ivkovic added.
‘He’s such a good person, that’s been the hardest as a partner to watch people, not even in this situation but over the years, paint him as a bad person.’
Scratches can be seen on Ms Ivkovic’s legs (pictured) after a domestic incident involving her and partner, Dylan Walker
Footage filmed in the aftermath of a call to police about a domestic incident involving Dylan Walker and his partner, show Walker (pictured left) being searched by police (pictured right)
Ms Ivkovic initially told NSW Police that Walker pulled her by the ponytail to the ground but later backtracked on her claims
During his trial, Walker told the court Ms Ivkovic had left their home after a fight broke out between them when she asked if he’d like a spoon or a fork to eat dinner while he was playing his PlayStation.
He said he followed her outside and asked her to come back into the home and speak to him.
‘I just reached out with my left hand to touch her shoulder, just turning her towards me,’ Walker said. ‘Then she fell, fell onto the ground.’
Ms Ivkovic initially told NSW Police that Walker pulled her by the ponytail to the ground.
But in February she told the court she recalled things differently later on.
‘When I fell, I thought at the time that he had grabbed my hair but then I realised that he didn’t,’ Ms Ivkovic said in court.
She said Walker reached out to grab her shoulder and her hair got in the way.
Under cross-examination, Walker said he pursued Ms Ivkovic because he was concerned for the safety of her and the baby, due to rocks on the ground – she was barefoot – and traffic on the road which was on a steep hill.
Walker (pictured leaving Manly Court on May 10) was found not guilty of assaulting his fiancee (right)
Walker’s Miss Universe finalist fiancee, Alexandra Ivkovic (pictured), suffered grazes to her shoulder, leg and feet in December
However, when shown a photo of where the incident occurred he was only able to identify one rock.
Walker was quizzed by prosecutor Senior Sergeant Craig Pullen as to whether he’d told his fiancee to ‘get up’ off the ground and whether he had helped her to her feet.fr
He said he ‘maybe’ or ‘probably’ said ‘get up’ but that he couldn’t recall exactly.
The NRL player said he’d ‘reached toward her’ with his right arm to help her up after first taking the baby.
He couldn’t remember if she’d grabbed his hand or his arm, leading Sen Sgt Pullen to state: ‘You’re simply making this up as you go.’
Earlier, Walker denied swearing at neighbour Lauren O’Sullivan who’d previously testified she saw him pull Ms Ivkovic’s hair and went to her aid.
He admitted he swore at Ms O’Sullivan’s partner who called out that the police had been phoned. Walker told him to ‘mind your own business you f**head’.
He denied he was being argumentative instead saying he was responding to the neighbour’s ‘sarcastic’ tone.
The Manly Sea Eagles centre also pleaded not guilty to a backup charge of common assault
Walker’s defence called three final witnesses: Ms Ivkovic’s mother, Walker’s manager Wayne Beavis and a social worker who met with his fiancee following the incident.
All three testified Ms Ivkovic told them Walker had touched her shoulder and accidentally pulled her hair.
The Manly Sea-Eagles announced on March 1 that Dylan Walker would be stood down under the sport’s new ‘no fault’ stand down policy pending the outcome of the court case.
The Australian reported in March that Walker has missed two months of his match career and that is believed to equate to about $100,000 or one-sixth of the value of Walker’s contract.
The representative State of Origin matches in June also earn players more than $30,000 per match, potentially costing the five-eighth more in missed earnings.
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