Troy Buswell’s ex-wife Melissa Hankinson denies suggestions she injured herself in drunk fall

The former wife of Troy Buswell has denied the injuries she sustained after the couple attended an event at the Dunsborough holiday home of a prominent West Australian were the results of her stumbling over because she was excessively drunk. Melissa Hankinson also refuted suggestions she was “pushing and shoving” the ex-Liberal leader outside the house because she was “angry” with him because he was dancing without her. Mr Buswell is on trial in Perth Magistrate’s Court accused of subjecting his ex to physical, emotional and financial abuse throughout their five-year relationship at various locations in WA. He denies the charges. During the hearing today, it emerged the pair had attended a Leeuwin Estate concert function at the house of property developer Nigel Satterley the night Mr Buswell allegedly subjected his ex to the worst of the physical abuse. The court was told there were around 150 people at the event which was held on February 26, 2016. On Tuesday, Ms Hankinson testified Mr Buswell punched her in the jaw then kicked her repeatedly in the legs, ribs and near her vagina while wearing his cowboy boots. The alleged incident took place three weeks before the couple were married. During the hearing today, Ms Hankinson said the abuse began in the taxi on the way to Mr Buswell’s mother’s house in Vasse, telling the court she was “whimpering” for him to stop kicking her in the back of a taxi. However, when she was asked by Mr Buswell’s lawyer, Tom Percy QC, if she could remember where she was sitting in the car, she could not, saying: “I do remember I was sitting next to him and looking at the window whimpering. I don’t know if I was facing the driver or not. “I was whimpering the word stop. Stop Troy, stop Troy.” When it was put to her that Mr Buswell could not have been wearing the cowboy boots at the event because he had plantar fasciitis and needed to wear comfortable shoes with inserts because he had to stand all evening, Ms Hankinson insisted he was wearing them saying he “loved those boots”. She also disputed suggestions she had fallen over outside his mother’s house as well as inside the bedroom and crashed into the bedside table, insisting Mr Buswell punched and kicked her that night. She also defended her decision to visit the wedding photographer the following day and admitted that she attended another lunch function hosted by Mr Satterley at Studio Bistro in Yallingup despite the fact her “whole body was in pain”. “I went to the party. I do have a memory (of it),” she said after Mr Percy asked her if she could recall the event.” “I met (news presenter) Rick Ardon and there was an oyster shucker there.” Ms Hankinson’s spending habits were also placed under the spotlight during the hearing with the court being told the experienced police officer spent around $2000 a month on items for herself. However she refuted Mr Buswell was generous with her despite the court hearing Mr Buswell paid for Ms Hankinson’s American Express card and her council rates, electricity, contents insurance, gas, water and other household bills. Ms Hankinson conceded Mr Buswell did contribute to those bills, saying his salary was much higher than hers. She also said she never denied that she liked having someone help with the bills. But she said she saw this as being part of the marriage and claimed that soon after she was placed on a budget. The court was also told Ms Hankinson spent $812 on botox in July 2018 however the mother-of-one said that was a one-off visit. The trial was adjourned until later this year when a date will be set for the rest of the hearing to take place. If you or someone you know requires assistance, click here for support services.