Chris Mansfield after winning a scooter race at an Auckland bar last year. Last week he was axed from reality show Married At First Sight amid domestic violence allegations. Photo / Doug Sherring
Chris Mansfield after winning a scooter race at an Auckland bar last year. Last week he was axed from reality show Married At First Sight amid domestic violence allegations. Photo / Doug Sherring
The on-screen "wife" of axed Married At First Sight contestant Chris Mansfield has opened up about the "trauma" of finding out he was facing serious domestic violence allegations in the US.
And she has spoken at length to the woman Mansfield was charged with assaulting, saying it was "important" to hear from her directly about the allegations.
Mansfield, 39, was due to appear on the third season of MediaWorks reality show Married At First Sight which airs from this weekend.
His removal came after his ex Candace Casady, 32, claimed physical and mental abuse before he was arrested on a domestic violence charge on May 4, 2009.
Mansfield pleaded not guilty and was released on bail but the Herald understands that after missing a second pre-trial hearing on June 15, he was taken into custody by US immigration services and sent home to New Zealand.
Casady was pregnant with his child at the time he left the US but did not have the baby.
Mansfield has not responded to requests for comment by the Herald in the past several days.
But he appears to have updated his Instagram page to reflect his removal from the show.
Mansfield appears to have updated his Instagram profile information in the wake of his removal from MAFS. He has not responded to the Herald. Photo / Instagram
The woman he was matched with and "married" to on MAFS was Auckland business owner and sales manager Aimee Collins.
The 34-year-old confirmed at the weekend she was the on-screen wife of Mansfield but the pair exited the show early.
She spoke to the Herald today, saying the last few days had been "really hard".
"I'm doing ok, as good as I can be - but it's been a rollercoaster ride," said Collins, who is currently out of the country.
"Honestly, it has been a nightmare, the last few days has been very, very traumatising for me.
"The entire experience has been very, very traumatising for me. I'm really lost for words."
Aimee Collins was matched with Chris Mansfield on the show, but both have been edited out after allegations emerged he had assaulted a former partner in the US. Photo / MediaWorks
Yesterday Casady contacted Collins and the pair have spoken at length.
"She reached out to me and I responded," Collins told the Herald.
"I needed to hear it [the details of the allegations] from her."
Collins was also able to speak to another of Mansfield's American ex girlfriends.
Kim, who does not want her last name published, was his first partner in the US and also alleges they had a toxic relationship.
"I think for me it was good to hear it from the [alleged] victims themselves, to hear their accounts, their warnings and their concern for my future safety," Collins said.
"Speaking to them was helpful… it was shocking, it was disturbing…"
Collins said there was much more she wanted to say - and would in future.
"Given their serious nature, we began investigating the details as a matter of urgency and these investigations are ongoing," a spokeswoman said.
"As this is now an employee relations matter we are following the due process required by New Zealand law and cannot elaborate further at this time."
DO YOU NEED HELP?
If you're in danger now:
• Phone the police on 111 or ask neighbours of friends to ring for you. • Run outside and head for where there are other people. • Scream for help so that your neighbours can hear you. • Take the children with you. • Don't stop to get anything else. • If you are being abused, remember it's not your fault. Violence is never okay
Where to go for help or more information:
• Shine, free national helpline 9am- 11pm every day - 0508 744 633 www.2shine.org.nz • Women's Refuge: Free national crisis line operates 24/7 - 0800 refuge or 0800 733 843 www.womensrefuge.org.nz • Shakti: Providing specialist cultural services for African, Asian and middle eastern women and their children. Crisis line 24/7 0800 742 584 • It's Not Ok: Information line 0800 456 450 www.areyouok.org.nz