To Violence Against Women – Australia Says Yes in Special Circumstances

Matt Newton’s assault conviction has been overturned.

The son of Australian TV legends Bert and Patti Newton pleaded guilty to punching Satchwell and pushing her into a wall while she begged him to stop on September 13 last year.

On June 12, Mr Newton was given a 12-month good behaviour bond for the assault, but today challenged the conviction claiming it would have dire consequences for his career.

Mr Newton’s lawyer Chris Murphy said his client suffered a breakdown about the same time his “love/hate” relationship with Satchwell ended.

Well, Matt wouldn’t be the first person to crack it after getting dumped by a girl. But wait, there’s more….

New evidence tendered today showed Mr Newton had been in the care of a psychiatrist for more than six years.

We here at Defamer would probably need to see a shrink too if we’d been living in the shadows of our famous father’s overly large head for that long as well.

But the real kicker in this case, is that Newton’s lawyer argued the conviction should be overturned, because it might harm Matt’s career. Harm Matt’s career? HARM MATT’S CAREER? Can’t help but wonder why Paris Hilton’s lawyer didn’t try that one… or whether Nicole Richie will give it a go when she goes to court next month.

Acting Judge Joseph Moore acknowledged Mr Newton’s fame before discharging him today.

“It does not in any way lead the court to give any special consideration to his case because he is a person of high profile,” Mr Moore said.

“On the other side of the coin, when people reach a position of what could be described as notoriety, they have an added responsibility to behave in a certain manner.

“The way in which he has been given particular media attention has acted as a considerable measure of punishment which he has endured in a way that shows him great credit.”

Mr Moore conceded that a criminal conviction could impact on Mr Newton’s chances of working overseas and accepted the actor was suffering a “severe depressive disorder” at the time of the offence.

Mr Moore then upheld the appeal.

Since Judge Joseph Moore in this case basically just handed we, the media, the power to punish Matt through the “attention” we give him, we’d love to be the first to dish up some celebrity justice. But we’ll hold back.

Matt, now that you’re free to work without the hassle of a conviction hanging ominously over your head, please do us all a favour and piss off overseas.