A man who allegedly locked a woman on the balcony of a high-rise hotel apartment before she fell to her death says he never wanted to harm her.
Scott Andrew Minigle was charged with a single domestic violence-related offence in December, more than three years after Jodie Lovell fell from a 10th-floor balcony at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Sydney’s city centre.
The 45-year-old mother-of-two’s body was found on a level-one rooftop following the May 2020 fall.
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Minigle was charged with one count of domestic violence-related taking or detaining a person with intent to obtain advantage after allegedly locking Lovell on the balcony.
The 51-year-old allegedly wanted “psychological gratification” by detaining her, according to court documents.
Speaking outside Sutherland Local Court on Friday, Minigle said the past three-and-a-half years had been “absolute hell” and he had only been charged because “they’re looking for someone to blame”.
He said the pair had argued and he was trying to go through her phone.
“I never, ever wanted any harm to come to her,” he said.
Minigle wore a green T-shirt and blue jeans as he represented himself in court, telling Magistrate Hugh Donnelly he planned to see a lawyer on Monday.
“I’ve got absolutely no understanding of this whole procedure,” he said.
The magistrate explained he had been charged with a serious, indictable offence that would eventually be dealt with in the district court.
Donnelly said prosecutors would first need to serve him with a brief of evidence, adjourning the case to Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court for February.
“Can you write that down for me?” Minigle asked the police prosecutor.
One woman leaving the courthouse apologised as she began to cry, saying she remembered Lovell as a “beautiful person”.
“She was just all for her children and now they don’t have a mother,” she told reporters.
Minigle remains on bail.
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, call 000. Advice and counselling for men concerned about their use of family violence: Men’s Referral Service, 1300 766 491.
