Karl Howard, 44, has been stood down as co-owner of the Ray White Balmain office while police investigate whether drugs played a part in the bloody ordeal that unfolded during the early hours of Monday.Police have now interviewed the New Zealand-born real estate agent who underwent surgery for a dislocated shoulder sustained during the alleged attack at the three-bedroom property he owned with his ex-girlfriend in Annandale, in the city‘s inner west.He has since been charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, wound with intent to murder and trespassing. He was refused bail to appear at Newtown Local Court today.
Mr Howard and the two women had been drinking since Sunday afternoon before the incident at 5am on Monday.His six-year relationship had broken down last year and friends say he was struggling to come to terms with breaking up with the woman “he thought he was going to spend the rest of his life with.”Mr Howard allegedly injured the pair with police alleging the assault began when he punched one of the women, 27, in the head.The other woman, 29, then intervened and was allegedly struck with the sword. Mr Howard was seen leaving the scene bleeding, while the two women banged on a neighbour’s door where the alarm was raised and police were called.
One of the alleged victims is thought to have been in an intimate relationship with Mr Howard after meeting recently online.Officers are waiting to formally interview the two women to glean exactly what happened. Both were at the same hospital in a satisfactory condition.“He reached out to several friends and was boasting about a huge party at his house and was inviting anyone who wanted to come along, he was not himself,” a colleague said.Ray White executives say they have temporarily stood down the successful principal while police investigate.“He was been stood down from the business pending the police investigation, Ray White expects a high standard of personal conduct from its members,” a Ray White spokeswoman said.“Our thoughts are with the women, we are deeply concerned for the girls’ well being.”
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