Warrant threat for Semi Radradra after no-show in court

A warrant will be released for the arrest of rugby league star Semi Radradra​ unless his legal team provides more convincing evidence for why he did not appear in court to face domestic violence allegations.

The Parramatta Eels winger was due to face a hearing in Parramatta Local Court on Monday after he pleaded not guilty this year to three charges of domestic violence against his former partner.

Parramatta Eels player Semi Radradra who is charged with domestic violence at Parramatta Local Court in July. Photo: Ben Rushton

But Radradra's barrister Murugan Thangaraj, SC, told the court the hearing needed to be vacated because his client had left Australia urgently last week to be with his ailing father in Fiji.

Radradra's father, the court heard, was suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis and asthma and was in "significant difficulty".

Mr Thangaraj presented a letter to the court written by the doctor in Fiji treating Radradra's father, but the magistrate​ said the evidence was "not compelling" enough to justify the 24-year-old's non-appearance.

The magistrate said the letter suggested that Radradra's father had been suffering the medical problems for some time and that his condition remained under control.

"You understand that's not very convincing," the magistrate said.

"This tells me nothing other than his father suffers what appears to be a long term illness ...There is nothing in it to indicate any reason for non attendance. Certainly nothing that could justify a sudden departure from Australia in the manner that occurred."

The magistrate revoked Radradra's bail and issued a warrant for his arrest which will be formally released on November 30 if more evidence of the severity of his father's medical condition is not provided to the court.

The police officer in charge of the investigation had been notified of Radradra's need to leave the country, and his bail had previously been relaxed to allow him to travel overseas.

But the magistrate expressed his displeasure that Radradra had left the country last Wednesday, two days before his lawyer gave notice to the court of his intention to adjourn the hearing date.

The prosecution also supported the vacation of the hearing, but on the grounds that two of the witnesses that were required could not attend.

The magistrate stressed that the legal system strove to deal with domestic violence matters quickly and there had already been some delay in Radradra's matter coming before the court.

The 24-year-old was arrested at Sydney Airport earlier this year and charged with one count of domestic violence-related assault causing actual bodily harm and two counts of domestic violence-related common assault.

The offences were allegedly committed against his former partner Perina Ting in Parramatta between October 2014 and May 2015.

Ms Ting had applied for an Apprehended Violence Order against Radradra, filing a video report with police alleging she had been assaulted on multiple occasions over an eight-month period.

There was no indication given as to when Radradra would return to Australia, but the matter will come before court again later this week to give his lawyer time to submit more evidence of his father's illness.

The hearing is now slated to occur next year.