A prominent former real estate agent accused of intending to kill a woman he attacked with a samurai sword has been unable to leave prison more than a month after he xjmtzywwas granted bail because he cannot find suitable accommodation, a court has heard.
Karl Adon Howard, 45, was arraigned in the Sydney District Court on Friday almost 12 months after police alleged he attacked two women following a wild night on Valium, Viagra, cocaine and alcohol.
The high flying former principal at Ray White Balmain appeared in court via audiovisual link from Parklea Prison where he entered pleas to four charges laid after the alleged attack which occurred the early hours of February 8, 2021 at his Annandale home.
Mr Howard pleaded guilty to one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm to one woman and another count of recklessly causing grievous bodily harm to a second woman.
He pleaded not guilty to one count of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to murder and another count of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to cause it.
The court heard prosecutors did not accept Mr Howard’s pleas of not guilty to the less serious charges.
Judge Dina Yehia said the case would proceed to a trial on November 7, with an estimated seven-day duration.
When Judge Yehia questioned why Mr Howard was still in custody after he was granted bail last month, defence lawyer Jonathan Nigro told the court his client was unable to find appropriate accommodation.
“There’s going to be a bail review on Monday, we’ve got an appropriate location,” Mr Nigro told the court.
“He does have bail, he’ll be entering it on Monday.”
Police have alleged previously Mr Howard punched a woman in the head before hitting her 29-year-old friend with a samurai sword as she attempted to intervene.
A court previously heard Mr Howard had allegedly mixed valium, Viagra and cocaine with alcohol on the night before the incident.
After the attack women were rushed to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and treated for injuries.
