Domestic violence charges against Hazem El Masri to be dropped
'Hazem El Masri would never abuse a woman'
The lawyer for the former NRL star tells a media pack that his client's alleged domestic violence victim should not be trusted, outside court in October 2015.
Domestic violence charges against former NRL star Hazem El Masri will be dropped on Monday, police have confirmed.
El Masri, 39, was charged with assaulting his former wife Douah El-Cherif, 25, during an argument in October over property and living arrangements.
The relationship, which lasted for just over a year, had disintegrated three months before the fight, Fairfax Media was told at the time.
The pair argued when El Masri asked Ms El-Cherif to leave one of his properties in which she had been temporarily staying during the separation.
Later that night, Ms El-Cherif attended Bankstown police station and alleged that her former partner had pushed her while trying to get his keys back, causing her to hit her head on some furniture and sustain a scratch.
However, it is understood that more than a dozen police working on the case have not been able to substantiate the allegations and will withdraw the matter when it returns to Bankstown Local Court on Monday.
"As a result of the ongoing assessment of information gathered during the investigation, police have withdrawn the charges and the matter will not proceed," a spokeswoman said.
El Masri's lawyer Chris Murphy confirmed the charges would be dropped yet declined to comment further. He said El Masri would not be making any comment.
In an earlier court appearance, Mr Murphy was admonished by a judge for launching a scathing attack on his client's alleged victim in court, describing her as "a compulsive liar" with a history of making "hysterical false accusations".
Following the October allegations, El Masri's long-time former wife, Arwa Abousamra, spoke out in support of for ex-husband, saying he had never even raised his voice at her before.
The former Bulldogs player was suspended from some ambassador roles following the allegations.
