The neighbor “avoided” former TV presenter Andrew O’Keefe before the unit’s alleged attack

The upstairs neighbor of a woman who was allegedly attacked by former TV presenter Andrew O’Keefe said she “evaded” him when she saw him.

Nicole Taylor told a court she recognized O’Keefe, 51, from television and the media but did not interact with him, despite seeing him several times at her apartment building.

“I actually avoided him,” she said on Tuesday, the second day of a hearing at Sydney’s Downing Center Magistrates’ Court.

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O’Keefe faces charges of resisting police, drug possession and assault related to domestic violence over an alleged incident at Point Piper in September 2021.

Six charges related to an alleged incident in January 2022 at his Sydney CBD home have been dropped because the alleged victim, on whom prosecutors relied heavily, left the country.

Taylor said she heard noises from the apartment below as she was preparing dinner on September 8, 2021.

“I could hear something was wrong down there,” she said.

Then she met O’Keefe, who aggressively slammed a door in her face.

Taylor returned to leave a message and said she was pulled in the door by her neighbor, who had scratches on the inside of her forearms and across her chest.

The woman also limp and trembled “like a leaf,” Taylor said.

When asked about the limp, the woman said “that she was kicked by Andrew.”

During a later debriefing at Taylor’s apartment, her neighbor also revealed that O’Keefe spat in her face.

Taylor said she ushered O’Keefe out of the condominium and asked if he was okay.

“He said, ‘What are you thinking?'” Taylor said.

The police found him lying on the stairs.

Constable Tyler Kelly said O’Keefe was “excited” and lay on the floor with his hand on his chest and asked for water.

“Isn’t laying down the opposite of incitement,” O’Keefe’s attorney, Richard Pontello SC, asked Tuesday.

“It was his behavior, not lying on the stairs,” Kelly said.

Body-worn camera footage of responding police was shown to the court on Monday.

Constable Elissa Major’s camera caught her briefly speaking to the woman accused of assaulting O’Keefe.

Major agreed with Pontello that another conversation took place “unofficially” after she turned off her camera.

The woman told her O’Keefe had been on a “bender” and hadn’t slept, Major agreed.

Pontello has asked police about another call that took place at St Vincent’s Hospital, again after Major’s body-worn camera was turned off.

He argued O’Keefe asked police to reactivate their body cameras because he had a request.

Major and Kelly told the court they could not recall any such request.

Senior Constable Jemma Harper said it “definitely didn’t happen”.

“Have you heard that Const Major has agreed to reactivate your camera?” Pontello asked.

“No, because the application was never made,” Harper said.

O’Keefe asked police if they had photos of the woman’s injuries, but Harper said he was not told the woman was injured.

Pontello said O’Keefe knew about the woman’s injuries because he saw her inflict them.

O’Keefe previously avoided a domestic violence conviction in June 2021 after charges were dealt with under the NSW Mental Health Act

In May 2022, he was granted parole to attend a rehabilitation center for up to 12 months to address his abuse of cocaine, ice cream and cannabis.

The matter was adjourned Tuesday afternoon for three more days of hearings beginning November 1.

O’Keefe left court with his attorneys and told reporters he would make a statement “after it’s all over.”

If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT at 1800.737.732 or visit us 1800RESPECT.org.au.

If you need help during a crisis, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. For more information about depression, call beyondblue on 1300224636 or speak to your GP, local healthcare professional or someone you trust.