League: Court hears how Sydney Roosters star Shaun Kenny-Dowall raised clenched fist at former partner

Sydney Roosters star Shaun Kenny-Dowall is in court facing a variety of domestic assault charges against his former partner Jessica Peris. Photo/Getty

Sydney Roosters NRL player Shaun Kenny-Dowall sarcastically told his mother "I bashed her" when she noticed a bruise on the arm of his former girlfriend, the daughter of Senator Nova Peris, a court has heard.

The allegation emerged at the Downing Centre Local Court, where Kenny-Dowall is challenging 11 charges relating to the alleged assault and stalking of his ex Jessica Peris.
The 27-year-old Kiwi international has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

While giving evidence about the assaults, which are alleged to have occurred between October 2014 and last June, Peris said Kenny-Dowall had tightly grabbed her arm when she tried to leave the bedroom of their eastern Sydney home.

At a birthday lunch for Kenny-Dowall's mother held at a seafood restaurant, the Kiwi international jokingly said "I bashed her" when his mother saw a bruise on Peris' arm.

Peris gave further evidence about their relationship, which began after they met at a bar in Bali in 2012.

Kenny-Dowall and Peris had lived together in Sydney from May 2014 to June 2015, the court heard.

Their relationship deteriorated in mid-2015 but by the end of 2014 it was "a little rocky," Peris said.

"He was extremely angry," she said.

In one incident she detailed to the court, she said Kenny-Dowall had snatched her phone and locked himself in her bathroom.

They had been arguing about previous partners and after emerging from the bathroom, he hurled Peris' phone at a brick wall, which caused it to shatter, the court heard.

In another incident Peris alleges Kenny-Dowall pinned her against a wall with his left forearm and clenched his raised right fist.

"You are a f***ing slut, a waste of my time," Peris says he yelled at her.

"He then punched a wall frame which had a quote written on it which was next to my head," she said, adding that the force of the punch split the decoration and cut Kenny-Dowall's hand.

Earlier on Wednesday defence barrister Ian Temby QC said his client admitted hitting a painting, but disputed Peris' proximity, saying she was on the other side of the room.\

The hearing continues before Magistrate Greg Grogin.

- AAP