Sydney, Australia – A high-ranking radio executive in Sydney, Australia, has pleaded guilty to viciously attacking his former partner following a night spent together. Duncan John Campbell, 60, admitted to one count of common assault in Sydney Downing Centre Local Court after initially pleading not guilty to multiple charges, including assault and property destruction. The remaining charges were withdrawn after his guilty plea.
Campbell, who earns $560,000 a year as the Chief Content Officer of the Australian Radio Network, invited his ex-partner to his Rosebery apartment to resolve an ongoing dispute. However, tensions rose, leading Campbell to ask the younger man to leave, sparking a violent altercation between the two. The victim asked for $10,000, which Campbell’s lawyer described as part of the toxic relationship dynamic.
The court heard that Campbell became highly agitated, leading to a physical confrontation where he struck the victim multiple times before forcing him to leave the apartment. The victim later sought medical attention, resulting in a police investigation into the incident.
Despite arguments from Campbell’s lawyer that he was defending his property, the magistrate found the level of force used by Campbell to be excessive and unjustified. Campbell, who has no prior convictions but faced previous domestic violence charges that were dropped, expressed regret for his actions in a letter to the court.
As a result of his guilty plea, Campbell was convicted, fined $1000, and issued an apprehended domestic violence order preventing him from contacting the victim for two years. He was one of over 640 individuals arrested in a large-scale police operation targeting domestic violence offenders across the state.
Campbell’s employer, ARN CEO Ciaran Davis, provided a character reference for him, praising his work as a valued employee. Campbell left the court without making a statement, with his lawyer declining to comment on behalf of the radio executive.