Outrage as Newton's charges dropped

Matthew Newton appears with his lawyer David Markus in Miami-Dade County Court this week. Picture: Ella Pellegrini Source: HWT Image Library

Bert Newton with wife Patti and their children Lauren and Matthew in 1986. Source: HWT Image Library

IT is being called Newton's law. Four violent assaults. No convictions. Charges dropped.

Actor Matthew Newton has become a magnet for trouble but nothing is able to stick to him in the eyes of the court, he is still a cleanskin.

His formula for escaping the punishment has proven successful.

That secret is usually relying on his mental health condition. Erratic. Bipolar. Depressed. Obsessive compulsive disorder. Social anxiety.

His off-screen roles have created more drama than those he has starred in.

The Underbelly actor's timeline of misbehaviour reads almost like a resume for someone who wants a role as a runaway teen pest in a daytime soapie: partying hard with footy bad boy Ben Cousins, trashing hotel rooms and wild arguments at his home with a person on the phone requiring police to attend.

But it's his violence that thrust him into the spotlight and not because he was the son of showbiz parents Bert and Patti.

But his only true punishment was mega-dollar TV and radio contracts torn up, the public shame and not-so-flattering mugshots.

Ex-girlfriend and former Neighbours starlet Brooke Satchwell was beaten inside their Sydney home in 2007.

Matthew Newton and his former girlfriend Brooke Satchwell, who was beaten inside their Sydney home in 2007, at the Logies in 2002. Picture: Cameron Tandy Source: Herald Sun

Hollywood actor and Newton's former fiancee, Rachael Taylor, was allegedly assaulted in the lobby of a five-star hotel in Rome moments after he proposed to her in 2010.

Taxi cameras catch Newton punching taxi driver Mohsen Khayami, 66, at Crows Nest in northern Sydney on December 4.

Matthew Newton escapes conviction

On each occasion his charges were downgraded, he avoided conviction or walked away with a slap on the wrist.

Newton walked into Miami Dade County Court yesterday looking calm and at ease. And with good reason. He knew that the deal his Miami lawyer had struck with prosecutors over his trespass and assault charges was as good as it got.

See the CCTV vision of Matthew Newton allegedly assaulting a hotel desk clerk in Miami. No audio.

As serious as Newton's April 17 assault on Ariel Bory Vargas was, when Newton punched the hotel night clerk in the face and then chased the cowering man to the ground, it was clear from the outset that Miami police and prosecutors did not rate Newton with Miami's nastiest crims.

In a hearing that lasted less than two minutes, Newton walked free from court without conviction, instead ordered to pay $11,500 in restitution to Mr Vargas, and to complete 50 hours of community service.

It's quite clear there is one law for the football heroes and celebrities - most people only get one chance

The 35-year-old's latest penalty caused widespread outrage.

Radio broadcaster Derryn Hinch, who is a White Ribbon ambassador, said Newton had learnt nothing from his previous court appearances and failed to change his life.

"It makes a joke of the system. If you are clever enough and get a good lawyer you will walk," he said. "What happened in Miami was a disgrace. He's a lucky man."

In 2011...Actor Matthew Newton leaves Local Court at the Downing Centre complex in Sydney, after facing charges of contacting and breaching of an AVO brought by former fiancee Rachael Taylor, who he had assaulted on a trip overseas. Picture: John Grainger Source: Supplied

Newton's Twitter-happy lawyer, Chris Murphy, took to social networking to express his joy.

"Miami, like Australia, has a system of diverting cases inappropriate to criminal findings away from criminal law. Resolved, dismissed. No record," Mr Murphy tweeted.

High-profile lawyer Robert Stary finds himself in the Miami Dade courthouse most days pushing for the rights of his clients and trying to cut them the best deal.

But he too was surprised yesterday at Newton's sentence and said it was "rare" that someone who had a pattern of offending was avoiding the full arm of the law.

"On the face of it, it looks like he was dealt with leniently," Mr Stary said.

Matthew Newton in his arrest pic in Miami. He was charged with trespass and obstruction. Picture: Jailbase.com Source: Supplied

He said the mental illness defence would one day run its race.

"There comes a time when it loses its impact. You can't just blame the lapse in treatment for your offending."

Melbourne defence lawyer Michael Kuzilny was gobsmacked Newton avoided jail again.

"It's quite clear there is one law for the football heroes and celebrities," Mr Kuzilny said.

"Most people only get one chance."

Rachael Taylor and Matthew Newton arrive for the premiere screening of 'Three Blind Mice' at the Chauvel Cinema on September 4, 2009 in Sydney. Picture: Don Arnold Source: Getty Images

Domestic violence victim Jeannie Blackburn, who lost her baby and her eye after being kicked in the head and stomach by her ex-partner, said Newton should have a law named after him to help free other violent criminals.

"It's the same excuse footballers and celebrities use - they blame it on a drunken night, they have pressure because they are in the media and there is something wrong with them," she said.

"It's a disgrace and it makes a mockery of the system - it goes against all the work being done to stop violence."

Newton, who wore a suit, tie and Cuban-heeled boots, was not required to address the court, or enter a guilty plea, after prosecutors agreed to divert him from the criminal system.

It also emerged that Newton had already completed his anger course while attending the Betty Ford Clinic in New York.

Newton yesterday looked calm, fresh and did not have that dishevelled vibe about him.

"I feel like a different person. I feel like my eyes are open and I have a chance," he said in September at his taxi assault hearing via a video-link from the US.

aleks.devic@news.com.au

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