Overview
- The 44-year-old appeared in Perth Magistrates Court to face eight counts, including persistently engaging in family violence, aggravated home burglary, stealing, unlawful assault, criminal damage, and possession of cocaine and MDMA with intent to sell or supply.
- Police prosecutors alleged he forced his way into his 24-year-old ex-partner's home on Monday night, struck her in the face, then locked himself in a bedroom and took jewellery worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, including a Cartier watch and bracelets.
- Prosecutors also relayed the complainant’s claims of earlier assaults during the relationship and overseas trips, which are not the subject of separate charges.
- His lawyers said he will contest the case, after his arrest at his Perth home the day after the alleged incident.
- The court rejected his bid to suppress publication of the charges, and Escalante’s business profile includes founding Virtual Gaming Worlds with a reported net worth of $4.5 billion and a recently announced multi-year WWE partnership.