PHOTO: Karl Howard
A prominent Sydney real estate agent charged with attempted murder after allegedly punching a woman and slicing another with a samurai sword has been permanently stood down from his job.
Karl Howard specifically requested not to be brought up on screen on Thursday morning at Newtown Local Court and for the second time did not apply for bail as his case was briefly mentioned.
Mr Howard was said to have been stood down temporarily as the principal of Ray White Balmain following his arrest on February 8 after the alleged bloody attack on two women at his Annandale home.
Ray White confirmed the stand down was now permanent and ownership of the Balmain franchise is being transitioned to his business partner.
“The Ray White Balmain franchise has terminated Mr Howard’s employment,” the company said in a short statement.
In court Mr Howard’s lawyer John Sutton said he had only been served with a 20cm-thick police brief of evidence the night before and asked for the matter to be adjourned.
Mr Sutton said his client had asked not to appear before the court via video link from the remand centre where he is being held.
“I have specific instructions he does not want to come up on the screen,” he said.
READ MORE VIA THE AUSTRALIAN
