Conflicting stories of a fateful night
Date
May 23, 2013
Glenn Jackson, Marissa Calligeros and Donna Page
Police are called to Corey Norman's home in the early hours of Sunday morning, April 21. Three NRL footballers are said to have been locked out of the home by a woman who would later claim one of them, South Sydney's Ben Te'o, had struck her.
When police arrive, the woman leaves in a taxi, which takes her home. But not being able to pay for the taxi, she travels to a nearby police station. Officers there take her to a hospital, where she is treated. It is Fairfax Media's understanding that the officers ask her whether she is willing to make a complaint against Te'o, a Queensland State of Origin back-rower. She declines.
What happened prior to the phone call being made remains the subject of intense speculation, which varies significantly depending who is talking.
What appears not up for debate is Te'o had been with Norman at a Brisbane nightclub on the Saturday night. Darius Boyd was also there, having played for Australia against New Zealand on Friday night in Canberra. Te'o and Norman left to find a taxi, and were joined by Boyd and the woman, Katie Lewis. They left for Norman's home in Ashgrove.
Some time later, sources close to Te'o said that Lewis began hitting Norman with a high-heeled shoe. Norman and Te'o went into a room and shut the door. Lewis then began hitting the door, according to the source. Norman is then said to have opened the door in an attempt to convince her to stop, at which time Te'o's assertion is he was attacked with the shoe. Later, he had a photograph taken of a lump on his temple.
Souths officials are believed to have had him medically assessed following his return to Sydney. Photographs were also said to have been taken of the damage to the door. After the alleged incident which led to Lewis saying she had been struck repeatedly by Te'o, the Rabbitohs player left for his brother's house. Norman phoned him a short time later and said that Lewis was still present, and he could not convince her to leave. Sources have said she began loading possessions into a garbage bag.
Boyd's wife Kayla said she was aware of the Brisbane incident, but was unable to reveal any details. ''I am not worried about it and besides that I really have no comment,'' she said.