Fashion designer Wayne Cooper will contest a domestic violence charge stemming from allegations he assaulted his new wife.
The 61-year-old was arrested at a hotel in Sydney’s east on Sunday night after police received a report of an alleged domestic violence incident.
Cooper, born in the United Kingdom, is accused of assaulting his wife Elizabeth Adams, whom he married just over a year earlier, at the Campbell Parade property in Bondi Beach.
Police prosecutor Robert Breckenridge opposed an application to waive Cooper’s bail conditions in court on Thursday when the fashion designer failed to show up for the first hearing in the case.
Existing conditions include that he must not approach or be in the company of Ms Adams within 12 hours of taking drugs or alcohol, or commit any further offenses against her or anyone he was in a relationship with.
Cooper has pleaded not guilty and remains on conditional bail with a hearing scheduled for May 19.
The alleged victim and the investigator are the two prosecution witnesses, while a defense witness is expected.
“It took place in a room with only the complainant and the accused present,” Sgt Breckenridge told the court.
Fashion designer Wayne Cooper will fight allegations he assaulted his new wife, Elizabeth Adams (pictured together at their wedding last year)
Cooper (pictured) was arrested at a hotel in Sydney’s east on Sunday night after allegedly assaulting Ms Adams.
Magistrate Miranda Moody asked how many witnesses there would be after appearing surprised by the estimate provided by Cooper’s lawyer that a hearing would last up to four hours for a single charge of common assault.
Cooper’s attorney said a substantial amount of cross-examination could take place and requested a hearing later in 2025 due to expected delays in producing material in the case.
The designer was excused from attending Waverley Local Court on Thursday after the magistrate was told he had returned to his home in Myocum, in the Byron hinterland on the New South Wales north coast.
Described in real estate listings as an unparalleled luxury coastal paradise, the three-level, five-bedroom property listed in court documents as Cooper’s residence sold for nearly $3.9 million in 2023.
The sale came a few months after he was acquitted of historical accusations of assaulting his ex-wife, former model Sarah Marsh, due to inconsistencies in the evidence.
He was given a two-year good behavior bail in 2008 after pleading guilty to common assault against Ms Marsh about two weeks after she underwent cancer surgery.
Cooper rose to fame in the 1990s with her fashion brands BRAVE and WAYNE, which were sold in boutiques and Myer stores across the country.
He has also been a recurring guest on the reality show Australia’s Next Top Model.
Cooper (left) was given a two-year good behavior bond in 2008 after pleading guilty to common assault against his ex-wife, former model Sarah Marsh (right).
Cooper’s bail conditions include that he not approach or be in the company of Ms Adams within 12 hours of consuming drugs or alcohol, or commit any further offenses against her or anyone he has had a relationship with ( The photo shows the couple’s engagement).