PHOTO: Karl Adon Howard, 46
A prominent Sydney real estate agent who attacked two women – including one with a samurai sword – during a drug and alcohol binge has had bail conditions relaxed so he can go into rehab.
Karl Adon Howard, 46, appeared in the NSW District Court on Friday to have his bail conditions altered.
He previously admitted to attacking the two women during a terrifying ordeal in his Sydney inner-west home as well as being found not guilty of more serious charges.
The court was previously told the two women were at Howard’s Annandale unit in February 2021 when he began acting erratically and making violent gestures.
The real estate agent told the women he had taken valium and Viagra and he was seen consuming large quantities of cocaine throughout the night, the court was told during his trial last year.
Howard was in the middle of a cocaine bender at the time of the incident and hadn’t slept for seven days, the court was told.
He admitted assaulting one woman and causing her actual bodily harm and recklessly causing grievous bodily harm to the second woman.
However, the 46-year-old denied intending to kill or murder the woman he attacked with a samurai sword, with his lawyer arguing he was unable to form the intent to harm the woman because he was experiencing drug psychosis.
Judge Antony Townsend determined the real estate agent was not responsible for causing grievous bodily harm with intent to murder and intending to cause grievous bodily harm.
According to a Crown case statement tendered to the court, Howard began skipping around the room laughing and saying “one of you has to die” and “I have to f**king kill her” before the attack.
After fleeing his Ferris St home, Howard was captured on CCTV running into a nearby laneway and jumping into the back of a ute where he covered himself with a shade cloth as police drove past.
He covered himself in the tarp before staggering out of the tray and running before he was arrested minutes later.
In police bodycam footage also played to the court, Howard is writhing on the ground and growling like an animal at officers as he was arrested.
In December, the court to agreed to ease his bail conditions and remove his mandated curfew.
And on Friday, the prosecution agreed to further changes to Howard’s bail so that he could attend a Sydney drug rehabilitation and mental health clinic.
During his stay he will no longer have to report to police three times a week.
Howard will return to court for a sentence hearing on March 24.
READ MORE VIA THE AUSTRALIAN
MOST POPULAR IN NEW ZEALAND
- Property investor charged with fraudulently obtaining millions of dollars in home loans
- Arnold Schwarzenegger’s real estate agent son leaves fans drooling over his semi-naked photoshoot | WATCH
- Hardworking teen loses her $37,000 HOUSE DEPOSIT falling for sophisticated phone scam
- Housing market could stall as New Zealand enters an election year
- Claims about Jacinda Ardern’s wealth
- Abandoned land for sale
- The real estate agent who bought the bach that wouldn’t sell
- Australia is in a property BUST too: House prices to plunge 20 per cent
- THE ANCIENT STONE CITY: Proof of NZ civilisation before Kupe
- ‘World’s hottest grandma’ NZ’s Gina Stewart forced out of home by paparazzi | WATCH