Former Australian cricketer and TV commentator Michael Slater has been sentenced to four years in prison. He pleaded guilty to several charges, including domestic violence. However, he will not stay in jail because he has already spent more than a year in custody. The court decided to partly suspend his sentence.
Details of the Charges Against Michael Slater
Michael Slater, 55 years old, faced more than 12 criminal charges. These included domestic violence, stalking, breaking into a home at night, common assault, assault causing harm, and choking. These incidents took place in recent months.
Alcohol Played a Big Role in Slater’s Behavior
The court was told that alcohol was a major issue in Slater’s actions. The prosecutor said Slater’s behavior became worse when he drank. During the trial, it was revealed that Slater had made threats of self-harm and warned the victim not to report him. His actions made the victim feel scared and emotionally drained.
Victim’s Identity Kept Private
The name of the victim was not made public. The report only mentioned that she lives in the Noosa area in Queensland. She had been facing abuse such as assault, strangling, breaking and entering, and stalking since late 2023.
Judge Calls Slater an Alcoholic
Judge Glen Cash called Slater an alcoholic and said that his road to recovery would be difficult. The judge added that overcoming his alcohol problem will not be easy and is a key part of his future rehabilitation.
Lawyers Argued Over Sentence Length
The prosecution wanted Slater to receive a five-year sentence with the chance for parole after three years. Slater’s lawyer, however, asked for a shorter sentence. He said that the choking was not very serious and that Slater had shown good behavior in jail.
Slater’s Time in Custody Helped His Case
Slater had already spent 375 days in custody before the sentencing. During that time, he stayed away from alcohol and behaved well. His lawyer said he was calm, clear-headed, and aware of his actions while in jail. The judge accepted that Slater’s early guilty plea showed that he was sorry and had cooperated with the court.
Slater’s Cricket Career in the Past
Michael Slater was a well-known cricketer for Australia. He played 74 Test matches and 42 One Day Internationals (ODIs) from 1993 to 2003. After retiring, he worked as a cricket commentator.
