Scott Andrew Minigle and girlfriend Jodie Lovell had been staying at a hotel in Sydney in May 2020 when the visit turned sour and the mum-of-two fell to her death from the balcony
A mum plunged to her death from a 10th floor hotel balcony after she was locked out of the room by her boyfriend after he discovered texts from her former lover.
Mother-of-two Jodie Lovell fell from the 10th floor at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Sydney, Australia and died from her injuries. The 45-year-old had 20 minutes earlier been locked on the balcony by boyfriend Scott Andrew Minigle, who proceeded to go through her phone after finding text messages between Ms Lovell and another man. The mum was “crying and distressed” before she went over the balcony’s edge, a court heard, but the judge ruled on Thursday that Minigle would not be jailed for his actions.
He had earlier pleaded guilty to a single domestic violence charge of detaining with intent to obtain an advantage, relating to his phone access. Minigle, 52, had earlier revealed he reacted how he did in May 2020 because he was jealous, admitting the pair had a tumultuous relationship.
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“I actually got her phone… was going through her texts, just being stupid, and I came across some from a bloke,” Minigle told the court. “They were a bit suggestive. That’s what stirred the plot.”
Minigle insisted he did not wish to harm his girlfriend and instead locked her on the balcony to let her “cool her heels”. Minigle called reception when he noticed Ms Lovell was no longer on the balcony, saying: “I think my girlfriend jumped from the balcony.”
A short time later, her lifeless body was found on a level-one rooftop. “The hotel manager stated the offender told her … his girlfriend was on the balcony and that they had an argument and then he closed the balcony door,” a Crown statement of facts seen by the Daily Telegraph read last year. “He did not specify what he did then, but he turned back towards the balcony and she was gone.”
Police officers who arrived at the hotel were told Ms Lovell stood on a chair on the balcony shortly before she fell. “The offender was crying and distressed,” the facts continued. “He kept repeating ‘why did I do it’ and he was saying ‘I’m stupid’.”
Justice Sarah Huggett told the court that Minigle’s actions did not cross the threshold for jail time. “I am in no way wishing to minimise the tragedy,” the NSW District Court chief judge said, as reported by the Daily Mail.
“But in fact what he is being sentenced for is detaining his female partner on a balcony for 20 minutes. She hadn’t gone there to seek refuge.”
Due to Minigle’s difficulty with alcohol and accessing rehabilitation services, his sentencing was delayed, despite it being expected it would occur on Thursday. Justice Huggett admitted it was in the interests of the community that he be provided more time to find a bed in residential rehabilitation.
“I understand that causes further apprehension for everyone in court – I am very aware of that,” she said. “I … feel that in all the circumstances, a sentence does have to be imposed that does contain conditions that are more meaningful and deal with the issues that arise in this matter in regards to alcohol.”
Minigle did not speak to reporters when he left court on Thursday. His sentencing was adjourned until April 24 or earlier, if he can access a rehab bed before then.