KEY POINTS
- Michael Slater represented Australia in 74 Tests, 42 ODIs
- He was remanded in police custody in April 2024
CANBERRA: Michael Slater, a former Australian Test cricketer and commentator, has been sentenced to four years in prison.
According to Australian media reports, Slater pleaded guilty to seven charges, including allegations related to domestic violence.
The case was heard at the Maroochydore District Court in Queensland.
During proceedings, the court acknowledged Slater’s ongoing struggles with alcohol addiction and his challenges in undergoing rehabilitation.
It has been noted that Slater has already served over a year of his sentence in custody.
Slater was remanded in police custody in April 2024 after being charged with various crimes, including assault, strangulation, burglary, and stalking involving a woman in Queensland’s Noosa region.
He was denied bail last year after which he collapsed in the court, according to Wion.
Alcohol dependence
Judge Glen Cash, who delivered Slater’s sentence at the Maroochydore District Court in Queensland, stated that the former cricketer’s issues stemmed primarily from his alcohol dependence.
He also remarked that Slater’s path to rehabilitation would be a challenging one.
“Your rehabilitation will not be easy – alcoholism is part of your make-up,” Cash told the court, highlighting the significant challenge rehabilitation poses in such circumstances.
The charges, including those concerning domestic violence, were initially brought against him in late 2023.
Throughout his cricketing career, Slater represented Australia in 74 Test matches and 42 One Day Internationals.
The victim, whose identity has not been disclosed, was said to have suffered a sustained period of harassment and assault starting in late 2023 in the Noosa area of Queensland.
The court heard that Slater had made threats of self-harm in an attempt to frighten the victim into remaining silent about the abuse, leaving her deeply distressed and fearful.
