A multi-millionaire businessman who allegedly hired a man to spy on his model ex-girlfriend by installing listening devices in her apartment has appeared in court.
Ultra Tune mogul Sean Buckley, who faces a dozen charges relating to allegations of assault and stalking his former partner, as well as installing and monitoring listening devices in her apartment, appeared via video link in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
Mr Buckley appeared alongside co-accused Anthony Swords and Wade D’Andrea. The latter was allegedly hired by Mr Buckley to keep surveillance on his ex-girlfriend Jennifer Cruz Cole, the court was told.
Prosecutors sought a five-week adjournment while waiting for evidence, including police-worn body-cam vision and statements from officers.
“Why haven’t these been provided (to the court) before?” magistrate Stephen Ballek asked.
“There needs to be some clarification on what will be relied upon by prosecution when putting together their case.
“How’d you come up with the magic five-week adjournment period? I’m concerned we adjourn it for five weeks and you still won’t have been provided with the documents.”
The court was earlier told that Mr Buckley’s ex-partner Ms Cole walked in on Mr D’Andrea, who was attempting to retrieve listening devices installed in her home.
“Mr D’Andrea was caught red-handed with them,” prosecutor JJ Jassar told the court.
The alleged recordings are at the centre of the case against the high-flying Australian entrepreneur, who founded the Ultra Tune empire in the late 1970s.
Ms Cole, a former Ultra Tune “rubber girl” who appeared in racy ads for the company, shares a child with the multi-millionaire.
While recordings connected to the charges have already been provided, Mr Buckley’s lawyer Remy Van der Weil earlier told the court txjmtzywhat additional recordings were needed to form a defence against claims Ms Cole was living in fear.
Prosecutors argued the additional recordings were not relevant to the charges and enough audio material had been provided.
All parties were successful in applying for an adjournment on Tuesday and the matter will return to court on March 29.
