Former IPL commentator Michael Slater was given a four-year jail sentence on Tuesday after he pleaded guilty to a raft of charges, including domestic violence. But the 55-year-old will be freed immediately, having already served more than a year in jail. The sentence was “partly suspended” because of time he had already spent behind bars, ABC Sport reports.
Slater was a former Australian cricketer who played 74 Tests and 42 One-Day Internationals from 1993 until 2003.
Michael Slater Faces Serious Allegations
Slater was faced with an assortment of severe allegations, which include unlawful stalking, intimidation, common assault, harm to the body, and choking or suffocation. He was also alleged to have burglarized a home with intent overnight. The victim’s identity wasn’t made known, although the reports had reported she was a resident from Noosa in Queensland and was alleged to have suffered a range of abuses such as assault, strangulation, burglary, and stalking since late last year, 2023.
Slater Threatened The Victim
The prosecution said to Maroochydore District Court as the alcohol “was a repeating feature with his offending as his behaviour becomes more erratic.”
“The court heard Slater made threats of self-harm as he warned the victim not to report harassment and she felt extremely fearful and exhausted by Slater’s behaviour,” the report read.
Alcoholism A Big Problem
At sentencing, Judge Glen Cash took note of Slater’s alcohol battles and recognized the challenge of his rehabilitation. Prosecutors had lobbied for a five-year sentence with three years to become eligible for parole, while Slater’s defense attorney asked for a reduced three-year term based on Slater’s good behavior in custody. The attorney pointed out that Slater had gone without drinking in his 375 days in jail and had expressed remorse for his actions, prompting his guilty plea.
“Your rehabilitation will not be easy — alcoholism is part of your make up,” Cash said.
In his remarks, Judge Cash praised Slater for entering an early guilty plea, describing it as cooperation and remorse.
