Colourful former Auburn deputy mayor Salim Mehajer will avoid standing trial this year for allegedly assaulting a taxi driver and a journalist, after his lawyers successfully applied to have the hearings delayed following his car accident on Monday.
Mr Mehajer, 31, was to face a two-day trial starting on Monday for allegedly assaulting a taxi driver outside The Star casino in the early hours of April 2 by throwing an eftpos machine in the driver's face.
He was also charged with stealing and "intentionally destroying" a $1500 iPhone.
It was meant to be a big week in court for the property developer and former councillor.
Mr Mehajer was due to face a second trial on Wednesday for allegedly assaulting a Channel Seven journalist as he left Sydney City police station after his alleged altercation with the taxi driver.
He was also expected to appear in court this week over two commercial disputes, including a protracted fight with a former cleaner over unpaid wages.
Mr Mehajer did not appear in court on Monday after the Local Court heard he had been involved in a car accident in Lidcombe while driving his white Mercedes to court.
Footage emerged of Mr Mehajer in a neck brace being taken to Westmead Hospital. The court heard he was given morphine for neck pain and was discharged later on Monday.
Mr Mehajer's lawyer Mahmoud Abbas applied on Tuesday to have the trials vacated in light of the accident.
The court heard on Monday that Mr Mehajer had a pre-existing back injury. Mr Abbas said his client was visiting his treating doctor on Tuesday morning.
Police prosecutor Amin Assaad told the court the officer in charge had tried on "at least five occasions" to contact the doctor named on Mr Mehajer's medical certificate but had not yet had any success.
"We can't establish contact with that doctor," he said.
"The number on the medical certificate is that same number that's listed publicly. It's probably a busy morning."
But Mr Assaad said he took the document at face value and did not oppose the trial dates being vacated and relisted on new dates.
Asked outside court about the difficulties in contacting Mr Mehajer's doctor, Mr Abbas said: "All they did is call the practice and no one answered, so that's just nothing."
Local Court magistrate Vivien Swain re-listed the trials for January 31 and February 19 respectively.
A NSW Police spokesperson said on Tuesday: "Investigations are continuing into the circumstances surrounding the collision."
