Embattled singer … former Australian Idol winner Casey Donovan has allegedly been punched in the face by a man / Adam Ward.
The 20-year-old singer sustained lacerations to her face and a broken finger in the random clash with two men at the Beach Palace Hotel in Sydney’s Coogee in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Her stepfather Norm Axford told Confidential yesterday Donovan had been punched in the face twice by a Maroubra man, 24, who was arrested, questioned and later released by police.
“She was out with friends having a good time and on the dance floor when she was approached and hassled by these guys,” Mr Axford said.
“They were making comments about Idol and she told them not to bother her.
“The next thing one of them punched her twice in the face.”
Donovan had been “on a normal night out” with a group of four girlfriends when the clash happened, Mr Axford said.
Police and an ambulance were called to the scene about 2.15am, with Donovan taken to Prince of Wales Hospital for treatment.
Beach Palace group general manager Chris Warhurst confirmed the altercation, but said the venue’s CCTV footage “did not sustain the assault allegation”.
“She was only on the premises for 10 minutes. There was a bit of an altercation between her friends and other people. We removed all of them and police were called,” Mr Warhurst said.
It is understood glasses of beer were thrown in the fracas, with Donovan’s finger broken as she allegedly tried to defend herself.
Mr Axford said family members returned to the bar later on Sunday looking for some of Donovan’s personal property thought to have been lost during the fight.
“We went back looking for a fob watch Casey lost, which belonged to her grandfather who died recently. They (bar management) said they’d look for it, but we don’t hold out much hope of getting it back,” he said.
A police spokeswoman said Maroubra police were continuing their investigations into the incident, and were seeking all witness statements.
Donovan was back at the Prince of Wales yesterday for further treatment for her fractured hand and was unavailable for comment, but her stepfather said she had been badly shaken by the “horrifying” ordeal.
“It was just an unprovoked situation, she wasn’t doing anything,” Mr Axford claimed.
“It’s just horrifying to think this can happen.
“She doesn’t need this, she behaved herself.
“I’m just worried about the emotional scars this will leave, she’s been through so much already.”
While Donovan has publicly struggled since claiming the Idol crown in 2004, her music career had recently started to get back on track under her stepfather’s management.
Her last release, an EP Eye 2 Eye, is expected to be followed up by an album later this year.
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