One of Australia’s most senior television news executives has pleaded guilty to assaulting his wife just a day after he was arrested.
Rob Raschke, executive editor of Sky News Australia, pleaded guilty to common assault in Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday.
The 52-year-old former director of news at the Seven Network was arrested at 7pm on Tuesday and charged with assaulting his wife Rachel at 2.03am on Saturday, according to court papers.
Television news executive Rob Raschke has pleaded guilty to assaulting his wife Rachel at Alexandria, in Sydney’s inner-city at 2.03am last Saturday
Sky News Australia executive editor Robert Raschke must not approach or be in the company of his wife Rachel (pictured) within 12 hours of drinking alcohol or taking illicit drugs
His case was dealt with on Wednesday morning and he will be sentenced on April 11.
Raschke is also the subject of an apprehended violence order that states he must not approach or be in the company of his wife for at least 12 hours after drinking alcohol or taking illicit drugs.
The apprehended violence order also states he must also not assault, threaten, stalk, harass or intimidate his wife or ‘intentionally or recklessly destroy or damage any property that belongs to or is in the possession of Rachel Mary Raschke.’
The Raschkes, who live in Sydney’s inner-city, married at her sister’s home in Rose Bay overlooking the harbour in April 2011.
It was the second marriage for both and they honeymooned in Singapore and Thailand during a television non-ratings period.
‘I promised her I’d only look at the BlackBerry once a day while on our honeymoon,’ Raschke told the Courier-Mail at the time.
Rob Raschke is one of the most experienced news television producers in Australia
Raschke is also the subject of an apprehended violence order that states he must not approach his wife (both pictured) for at least 12 hours after drinking alcohol or taking illicit drugs
Raschke is one of the most experienced television news directors in the country and was executive producer at Sky News when the channel launched in 1996.
He worked for the Seven Network for almost 19 years, including three years as national director of news and 11 years as director of news in Brisbane.
As an ABC foreign correspondent in the early 1990s Raschke won a Walkley Award for his coverage of a township massacre in South Africa.
When contacted by Daily Mail Australia Raschke said: ‘Can’t talk to you mate, sorry.’
All Sky News staff were sent an email by Angelos Frangopoulos, CEO of Australian News Channel on Wednesday afternoon.
‘Until further notice, Greg Byrnes will be Acting Executive Editor at Australian News Channel,’ the email said.
‘Rob Raschke is on leave.’