Salim Mehajer has told his record-breaking bail variation hearing he cut off a plaster cast on his hand as he wanted to look presentable in court in a suit, not a t-shirt.
The right-handed former Auburn deputy mayor said he used scissors in his left hand to cut off the plaster, as he could not fit his suit sleeve over the cast and would be forced to wear a t-shirt.
He was being cross-examined in the District Court at Parramatta on Tuesday about a string of events including his failure to turn up in the same court on the morning of June 13.
The 33-year-old did turn up, sporting a bandaged wrist, in the afternoon after Judge James Bennett threatened to have him arrested after his solicitor said he was in Fairfield Hospital at the hand clinic instead of court.
Mehajer has pleaded not guilty to staging a 2017 crash in which his Mercedes AMG collided with another vehicle just before he was meant to appear in court over a taxi driver assault.
He's also pleaded not guilty to drug supply, namely oxycodone, and making a false statement under oath about his employment.
The bankrupt businessman is seeking variations to his bail conditions including permission to have one mobile phone and to use social media, in particular Instagram.
The debate over the bail conditions has dragged over four weeks, leading Judge Bennett to say on June 11: "This is going to go down in the record books ... as the longest-running such matter in the court's history,".
Mehajer previously testified that three doctors told him it was imperative for him to have surgery on his hand and any delay of treatment could lead to complications.
On Tuesday, Mehajer agreed he cut off the cast despite three doctors saying he required surgery.
He testified that he had been in "excruciating pain for weeks" but a fourth doctor later gave him the option of a cast or strap.
At one stage Judge Bennett referred to Mehajer's life being in "shambles" citing all his civil and criminal court matters.
He noted the explanation may have been revealed in Mehajer's evidence when said "he doesn't respond, but reacts" to events.
The hearing was adjourned to Friday when the parties will make final submissions.
Australian Associated Press
