REALJEM

Originally Posted by REALJEM

TROUBLED actor Matthew Newton is being "driven mad" by the court process over his alleged assault of a Sydney cab driver, his lawyer has told a magistrate.

Chris Murphy had a heated argument with Deputy Chief Magistrate Jane Mottley in Sydney yesterday as he tried to have Newton's case adjourned until his matters in the US were dealt with.

Newton, 35, has been listed to stand trial in the US on July 25 on four charges over incidents at a restaurant and a hotel in Miami in April. He has pleaded not guilty to all.

"This (Sydney) case is getting out of control," Mr Murphy told Downing Centre Local Court. "The media scrum turns up, there are more court reports in the newspaper . . . (He's) being driven mad by this court . . . "

Newton is charged with punching taxi driver Mohsen Khayami, 66, in the neck and head while a passenger in his taxi at Crows Nest on Sydney's north shore on December 4.

"His redemption is a difficult, long path," Mr Murphy said. "He's in a mental-care facility under 24-hour supervision. He's not going anywhere."

Mr Murphy said Newton was likely to be granted an adjournment of four to six weeks by the US court so his case could be dealt with under mental health provisions.

He said there was "no point" bringing the matter back before the Sydney court on August 6 as suggested by the magistrate.

Ms Mottley disagreed, saying: "I want to know on August 6 what happened on July 25."

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