Shaun Kenny-Dowall
New Zealand's Shaun Kenny-Dowall (C) is tackled by Australia's Jamal Idris (L) and Billy Slater during their rugby league test match on the Gold Coast May 6, 2011. Reuters/Jason O'Brien (AUSTRALIA - Tags: SPORT RUGBY)

Shaun Kenny-Dowall has not played for the Sydney Roosters of the National Rugby League (NRL) since the professional footballer got arrested and charged with several domestic violence incidents last July 18. On Thursday morning, Kenny-Dowall appeared for a short time at Waverley Local Court and pleaded not guilty to the 11 charges filed against him.

Kenny-Dowall, 27, entered the not guilty appeals through his solicitor, according to a report from ABC News. The domestic violence charges filed against Kenny-Dowall include common assault, assault causing actual bodily harm and stalking.

ABC News further reports that Kenny-Dowall faces a total of 11 charges that involves his former girlfriend, Jessica Peris. In the documents filed with the court, Kenny-Dowall allegedly assaulted Peris, the daughter of Labor Senator Nova Peris, on seven separate occasions between October 2014 and June 2015 at Coogee and Maroubra.

The documents filed also alleged that Kenny-Dowall harassed Jessica in May, destroyed her mobile phone and then terrorised her in June. Kenny-Dowall remained tight-lipped during his court appearance and gave no comment to the waiting media outside of the court when he left.

The Daily Telegraph reports that Kenny-Dowall and Peris have been together for more than two years. However, the couple ended their relationship three weeks before the domestic violence allegations emerged.

Kenny-Dowall’s case is scheduled to return to court on September 17 but the professional footballer will no longer appear. Meanwhile, Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) reports that Kenny-Dowall is set to return to the NRL on Sunday where the Sydney Roosters take on Newcastle at Hunter Stadium.

SMH further reports that Kenny-Dowall got admitted to the hospital two weeks ago due to concerns over the NRL player’s mental health. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Kenny-Dowall’s teammate and good friend, admitted that the Sydney Roosters are looking forward to having Kenny-Dowall back again.

“He is doing well and better than what he was.” Waerea-Hargreaves said in the SMH report. “The boys have his back and it has been massive the amount of support he has had,” he added.

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