Guy Sebastian has been summoned to testify in his former manager’s trial after sending text messages to a witness concerning evidence in court.
The first Australian Idol winner finished his cross-examination on May 24, but was summoned to the NSW District Court this week after another witness revealed the two had exchanged text messages about contested material prior to that date.
Christian Bugno arranged for Sebastian to sing at his Venice wedding in 2016, and claims that his father paid for Sebastian and his then-manager Titus Emanuel Day’s business-class flights.
Day, who handled Sebastian through 6 Degrees from 2009 to 2017, is accused of defrauding him of over $900,000 between 2013 and 2020.
The 49-year-old has pleaded not guilty to 50 allegations, including defrauding Sebastian of money owed to him in royalties and performance fees.
He’s also accused of 50 charges of larceny, or theft.
Day alleges Sebastian owes him money for commissions, presents, and flights to the groom’s wedding in Venice, which he claims he paid for.
Last week, the witness revealed that Sebastian texted him on May 23 at 12:27 a.m. local time in Las Vegas, where Mr Bugno lives, saying, “Brother, sorry but this is very urgent because I’m in court.”
Day’s lawyer, Dominic Toomey SC, requested that Sebastian be summoned to interview him about it.
Sebastian was granted an exemption on May 23 to confer with the Crown concerning previous testimony, despite Judge Timothy Gartelmann’s instruction that he not discuss the evidence ‘you are to deliver.’
‘Did you think you were not in breach of that direction?’ Mr Toomey said.
‘Everything I did was by the book,’ Sebastian said
Sebastian claimed he knew Mr Bugno would have the records of payment for the flights after being shown with a “incorrect invoice” in court, so he asked him for them.
Sebastian was questioned by Mr Toomey regarding his encounter with Crown Prosecutor David Morters SC and his junior counsel.
‘I said to the Crown I know I can text him directly. I know Mr Day didn’t pay for the flights, so I got the information that I know they would need, not just my word for it,’ Sebastian said.
Meanwhile, one of the jurors was formally released owing to personal reasons, leaving the panel with 12 members.
The trial is still ongoing.
Share on Facebook «||» Share on Twitter «||» Share on Reddit «||» Share on LinkedIn