A well-known Sydney lawyer has been charged with allegedly assaulting his wife in a series of incidents.
Ertunc Ozen, 53, was charged with nine counts of common assault, one of assault causing actual bodily harm and one of contravening a domestic violence order against his wife Irina Ozen in June, the court reports. Daily Telegraph.
Ozen was initially denied bail by police for contravening a domestic violence order, but was later granted conditional bail by a magistrate.
Police described in two court documents multiple allegations of degrading verbal abuse and physical violence that continued for more than two years.
The allegations include several claims that Ozen called his wife several offensive names, spit on her and punched her in the face.
Ozen vehemently denies the allegations and has pleaded not guilty to all 11 charges ahead of a hearing in a local court next year.
He is a high-profile attorney who often appears in high-profile trials and bail applications for people accused of serious crimes.
Ms Ozen first filed a complaint against her husband after he allegedly assaulted her in his car on June 8, before making other historical allegations of violence.
Prominent criminal lawyer Ertunc Ozen, 53 (pictured), was charged with nine counts of common assault, one of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and one of contravening a domestic violence order seized in June.
Police allege in a charging document that during an argument about their relationship, Ozen called Ms. Ozen a “prostitute” and a “bad woman.”
“The defendant punched the victim’s right thigh twice, causing immediate pain, and in self-defense, the victim kicked the defendant in the head, causing a laceration,” police said in court documents filed Thursday.
‘The defendant grabbed the victim’s wrist and twisted her left wrist in a manner that caused immediate pain; as a result, the victim suffered red marks, scratches and bruises.’
Police will allege this was a breach of a domestic violence order imposed against Ozen for the protection of his wife earlier this year.
Through his lawyer Mahmoud Abbas, Ozen consented to the order without any admissions and no charges were filed.
In a document detailing historical allegations before the car incident, Ozen allegedly repeatedly punched his wife in the face on November 19 last year after forcing her to sleep with him.
“The defendant forced the victim to retire to bed and made her lie on the bed with her head on his chest,” police said.
‘The victim told the defendant that he was scaring her and the defendant turned to the right, pushing the victim away from his chest and swung his arm back, striking her on the left side of the face three times.’
The allegations include several claims that Ozen called Ms Ozen (pictured) several offensive names, spat on her and punched her in the face.
After she fled to another room in the house, Ozen allegedly spit in his wife’s face.
Police will also allege that on November 21 last year, Ozen slapped his wife and pushed her out of the front door of the apartment because she would not touch him.
“When she asked him why he was hitting her, the defendant replied: “I hit you because you don’t touch me.”
As the couple prepared for a trip to Russia on January 4, Ozen reportedly became angry when his wife closed her suitcase without putting her toiletry bag inside.
Police say “the defendant called the victim a ‘selfish jerk’ and left the bedroom searching for items around the apartment.”
‘The defendant re-entered the bedroom and slapped the victim in the face with an open palm.’
Ozen is then alleged to have called his wife a “b***h” while she was wearing his sweater.
He allegedly told her to leave and call the police, then slapped her and spit in her face.
Ozen is alleged to have pushed his wife into a door frame as she tried to get away from her husband, where she hit her face.
“The victim turned around and the defendant punched him in the nose with a closed fist,” police said.
“The victim’s nose began to bleed and swell, and the victim requested the defendant to take her to the hospital, but he refused.”
Police also say that at his home in February 2022, Ozen slapped his wife during an argument and then threw a glass at her, which crashed into a wall.
Police allege in a charging document that during an argument about their relationship Ozen called Ms Ozen (pictured) a “prostitute” and a “bad woman”.
Police allege that in May 2022, Ozen pushed his wife twice during an argument, causing her to fall backwards, hit the back of her head against a wall and her hip and knee against a stool, causing bruising.
Ozen allegedly told his wife to “f*** off” on October 17 last year, slapped her and kicked her out of their downtown apartment.
Police will also allege that after observing Ozen needing to “manage his anxiety” in another incident on November 5 last year, he threw food at his wife from the fridge and kicked her in the thigh.
Ozen allegedly slapped his wife in the face on November 30 last year, and then punched her five or six times on the head until her nose bled on December 8 during separate domestic disputes.
The evening after the June 8 incident in the car, Ms. Ozen filed complaints about incidents that occurred between February 2022 and January 2024.
Ozen continues to practise his profession without restrictions and the New South Wales Bar Association is believed to be aware of the allegations.
The allegations can now be filed after Magistrate Robin Denes rejected a request by Ozen to protect his identity by issuing a non-publication order.
The court heard that Ozen was concerned that any publicity about his charges could negatively affect his ability to appear at other criminal trials.
“These domestic violence charges have publicity in the community right now,” Ms. Denes said in court on Thursday.
“It is important to note that all sections of the community, whether the most disadvantaged or the most advantaged, the public knows that these accusations can arise in all walks of life.”
The matter will return to court for hearing on March 30, 2025.
