By Duncan Murray, Aap
A domestic assault case against Olympic boxer Harry Garside, of Lilydale, has been dropped.
Garside was arrested last month at Sydney International Airport and charged with domestic violence-related common assault over an alleged incident on 1 March at Bellevue Hill in Sydney’s east.
The 25-year-old appeared at Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday where the charge and an apprehended violence order application were formally withdrawn.
“Today I have been vindicated,“ he said in a social media post.
“Moments ago the police prosecutor informed the court that they have dropped all matters against me.
“I am thankful for the diligence of the police in reviewing the overwhelming evidence in my favour and quickly moving to withdraw the proceedings.“
According to Garside, his lawyers provided “recordings and communications“ to police which showed a different version of events and cleared him of any wrongdoing.
Garside was represented by high-profile defamation barrister Sue Chrysanthou and lawyer Rebekah Giles, whose personal firm claims to specialise in “managing reputational risk“.
He said the ordeal has been personally devastating, as he prepares to face qualifications for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“Last month I returned from South Africa feeling motivated and optimistic about my future,“ he said about returning from filming on Network Ten’s I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!
“What has occurred since has been personally devastating and a real test of my resilience. I will be forever grateful for the love and support of my family and friends who have kept me strong and focused.
“I am determined to move on from this with gratitude and renewed energy towards qualifying for Paris 2024.“
Garside is expected to compete in the Pacific Games in the Solomon Islands in November.
“The Pacific Games will provide a qualifying path for Australian boxers for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games,“ spokesman for the Australian Olympic Committee said.
“Harry is a highly credentialed lightweight boxer and we wish him well in his campaign to compete in Paris.“
As a ballet-dancing, fingernail-painting plumber from Victoria, Garside has attracted a strong following of fans, many of whom are younger and see the professional fighter as breaking down stereotypes.
A portrait of Garside by artist John Hillier featuring a close-up of his face against a pink background was selected to appear in the 2023 Archibald Prize under the title, There’s something about Harry.
Garside said last month he was honoured to be a subject in the Archibald alongside other famous Australians but also felt partly like he didn’t belong there.
“I am always really curious about the impostor inside of me. I have been at war with him for a long time,“ he said.
“I think the impostor was created when I was very young or maybe even passed down through generations.
“I’m grateful that there has always been something else inside of me that has always believed I could be anything.“
From the outset of his arrest, Garside denied the domestic violence allegation and disputed the account he said was given to police.
“I have nothing to hide and will defend myself against this charge,“ he said at the time.
“The conduct of police in the presence of the media at Sydney International Airport yesterday took me completely by surprise.“
The lightweight boxer won the bronze medal for Australia at the Toyko 2020 Olympics.
He has won seven national boxing championships.
He finished second behind former netballer Liz Ellis in the latest edition of the I’m a Celebrity reality TV show.
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