A FORMER Scotland rugby player has accused his wife and her suspected lover of being liars and cheats after he uncovered “explicit” texts between them Simon Danielli, 37, who played for the national team between 2003 and 2011, gave evidence at his trial in Northern Ireland, where he is accused of attacking Olivia Danielli and Michael Browne.
He told Newtownards Magistrates Court he made the texts discovery while he and his wife were supposedly working to save their marriage. Mr Danielli said they showed she was arranging a secret “rendezvous” on the night of the alleged assault in March 2015.
He said: “My wife told me that day she had a pole dancing class at 7.30pm but I saw on her phone that wasn’t to be the case.” he told defence QC Mark Mulholland adding that she had saved He said she stored Mr Browne’s number under a female name but he knew it was a pseudonym as his photograph was in the corner.
Mr Danielli added: “Contrary to going to this pole dancing class they were going to have a rendezvous. I just wanted to see for myself, as final closure.”
Mr Danielli said he waited for the pair to emerge from Mr Browne’s home arm in arm, describing himself as “angry” and “disappointed.”
“I knew my marriage was over,” he said. He added: I was upset.”
Defence QC Mark Mulholland said: “Angry to the point where you beat him up?” Mr Danielli replied: “Absolutely not.” He added: “I’m not a violent person.
“I didn’t go there to beat him or hit him. I didn’t punch him or kick him.”
Mr Danielli, who also played for Ulster and lives in Holywood, Co Down, is alleged to have launched a series of kicks and punches on Mr Browne and shoved his wife to the ground, smashing her iPhone. He denies the charges.
Mr Browne gave evidence that he curled up in the fetal position when kicks and punches landed on his head and body in an initial attack but that having gotten up, he was allegedly attacked again, punched to the face and knocked to the ground during a second bout of blows.In evidence, Mr Browne denied defence suggestions the two men had “nothing more than a scuffle.” and that the allegations were lies.
Defence applications to have the charges of assaulting Mrs Danielli and damaging her phone dismissed were refused by District Judge Mark Hamill yesterday.
Mr Danielli, who graduated from Oxford with two degrees in philosophy and theology said they married in 2009 By June 2014, the former player said he and his wife were attending marriage counselling and although he left the marital home at September, “I don’t see that as a separation” as he was still regularly staying over most nights.
The trial continues.
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