Breaking news: All Black 47-years old repeated drunken violence against women

The text message halted Yuliana Desta in her steps. Four words reignited the trauma she had been trying to suppress for the past four years: “He’s done it again.” The message included a link to a news article about Desta’s former fiancé, ex-All Black Byron Kelleher, facing domestic violence charges in France. Soon, her phone would be inundated with messages containing headlines from various sources worldwide.

According to reports from French newspaper Le Parisien, Kelleher recently appeared before the 24th chamber of the Paris criminal court, facing charges allegedly committed against another former partner. The police complaint detailed an incident in June of the previous year, accusing Kelleher of assaulting a 37-year-old woman in a violent altercation at their home, including dragging her down the hallway by her hair.

The victim’s statement to the police revealed a pattern of “verbal and physical violence” in their relationship, citing incidents in Mauritius in February 2023 and an alleged assault in May of the same year on Prince Albert of Monaco’s boat.

Kelleher, however, denies the allegations. While admitting to arguments, he claims to have “not touched her.” The woman’s story resonated strongly with Desta, who felt a sense of familiarity in the high-flying lifestyle, parties, glamorous events, drinking, and violence.

Prompted by the reports, Desta, who met Kelleher in Bali in September 2018, decided to share her experiences. Alleging multiple instances of physical assault throughout their tumultuous 16-month relationship, the Auckland-based makeup artist disclosed that the violence escalated with each episode.

Authorities in three different countries were contacted after violent incidents, including a harrowing episode in a Barcelona hotel room in July 2019. Desta claimed Kelleher punched her, strangled her, and attempted to suffocate her with a pillow during that incident. Kelleher spent two days in a Barcelona jail, but when Desta chose not to press charges, they returned to Bali together.

Acknowledging that people may view her decision as foolish, Desta explained, “It was stuck in a cycle. Something horrible would happen, and then [Kelleher] would be all lovey, all romantic, like a honeymoon. Then he would drink and become abusive again.”

Despite several attempts to contact Kelleher and present detailed allegations through email, RNZ did not receive a response.

‘BK’ folder in phone contains evidence

Desta unlocks her phone and navigates to a folder labeled “BK,” a repository of hundreds of photos, videos, documents, and text messages encapsulating her traumatic experiences.

As she recounts the timeline of her relationship with Kelleher, she occasionally pauses to locate a photo or text message, intending to illustrate her narrative. Reflecting on the contents of the folder, she remarks, “I guess I knew I would need it sometime.”

The beginning felt like a fairy tale. They first encountered each other in August 2018 at Old Man’s bar in Bali, a renowned beachfront venue in Canggu. Kelleher noticed Desta leaving and seized her hand, urging her to stay and dance with him. Enchanted by his charm and cheekiness, they became inseparable, practically moving in together from the outset.

However, in hindsight, Desta acknowledges early red flags. Shortly after their meeting, she received a message from a fake Instagram account cautioning her about Kelleher. The anonymous sender, whom Desta believes was Indonesian, alleged physical abuse by Kelleher. Confronted with the messages, Kelleher dismissed them as the fabrications of a “crazy ex.”

Desta conducted her own investigation, discovering Kelleher’s rugby stardom in New Zealand and France. A Google search revealed articles detailing his previous legal issues, including a domestic violence conviction in France in 2017. Kelleher downplayed the incidents, claiming the news stories exaggerated them.

Less than two months into their relationship, Desta contends that Kelleher assaulted her during a trip to Bangkok in November 2018. A heated argument ensued after a night out, during which Kelleher, inebriated, wanted to continue partying. When Desta expressed her desire to return to the hotel, Kelleher, openly flirting with another woman, allegedly grabbed her aggressively and attempted to strangle her.

The altercation continued at their hotel, with security staff intervening to pull Kelleher away from Desta. Photos from the incident depict extensive bruising on Desta’s upper arms.

Despite the visible injuries, when Kelleher returned the next day, he avoided discussing the previous night. Desta recalls, “He came back the next day, he was really hungover and sick. I don’t know what he had done, but he was just like ‘I’m sick, I need help.’ So we didn’t really talk about it.”

Timestamps

Back in Bali, the relationship faced bouts of instability, with four specific incidents recounted by Desta, including a physical altercation on Boxing Day 2018, which she downplays as “minor.”

With an apparent nonchalance, she flips through photos displaying various injuries, using them as disturbing timestamps. The first time Desta sought police intervention was on May 11, 2019, following an argument with Kelleher that led her to stay in a nearby hotel for some “breathing space.”

The morning after, she received pictures from the housekeeper depicting women’s underwear on the floor. Confronting Kelleher at home, she found him with another woman. A confrontation ensued, during which Kelleher physically assaulted Desta. Despite her friend calling the police, Kelleher had fled the scene and the country before authorities arrived.

Desta made an official report, detailing injuries including pain in the right temple, abrasions on her hands and fingers, and bruises on her feet. With Kelleher in New Zealand, Desta went on with her life, traveling to Europe in June, a trip originally planned for the couple. Kelleher, seeing Desta’s social media posts, flew to Europe, expressing a desire to reconcile.

The reunion, initially reminiscent of a honeymoon, was short-lived. In Cyprus on June 25, after a night of drinking, Desta alleges Kelleher assaulted her, causing damage to the bridge of her nose, requiring surgery.

Despite a public apology on Facebook, expressing remorse and acknowledging his harmful actions, Kelleher’s violent behavior persisted. The relationship endured, marked by episodes of abuse and apologies.

In Barcelona, the situation escalated when Kelleher, intoxicated, insisted on riding a rental motorcycle back to the hotel. Terrified by his erratic driving, Desta demanded to get off, leading to a violent confrontation in their hotel room. Kelleher, in a fit of rage, physically attacked Desta, attempting to rip off her fake eyelashes, punching her, and later smothering her with a pillow. Fearful for her life, Desta managed to escape and seek help, resulting in Kelleher’s arrest.

Despite his brief detention, Desta chose not to press charges, influenced by Kelleher’s pleas for reconciliation and declarations of love. Caught in a cycle of abuse, she found it difficult to break free, even shielding the truth from her family and the public eye due to embarrassment and fear.

The orchardist

Following the tumultuous events of the previous three months, Desta laid down a condition for continuing her relationship with Kelleher: the couple would relocate to New Zealand. Living apart from her young son for over a year, Desta aimed to establish a custody-sharing agreement with her former partner based in Auckland. She believed that being away from the party scene in Bali could assist Kelleher in addressing his drinking issues.

Returning to work on the family kiwifruit orchard in Te Puke, where Kelleher holds a 60 percent stake, the rugby player seemed to have an epiphany. In a message on August 16, he drew parallels between orchard work and treating Desta gently to avoid causing harm, expressing a commitment to be more considerate.

However, this resolve was short-lived. Two weeks later, another violent incident occurred during casual drinks at Desta’s former partner’s home. When Desta wanted to end the night, Kelleher, intoxicated, became belligerent. Upon returning home, he allegedly punched holes in the rented property’s walls and acted aggressively toward Desta.

Fearing for her safety, Desta fled, and Kelleher later arrived, breaking a door and forcing his way into the house. Video footage captured his agitated state, yelling and swearing while demanding to see Desta. A scuffle ensued, leading to a call to the police. This marked the third instance in five months that law enforcement was involved with Kelleher, and this time, he faced charges of assault and willful damage in the Auckland District Court. Kelleher later completed diversion and was discharged without conviction in March 2020.

The charges and the threat of reputational damage served as a wake-up call for Kelleher, prompting a period of sobriety until December 2019. During this time, according to Desta, their relationship saw a positive transformation, with Kelleher being active, happy, fun, and romantic. In early December 2019, Kelleher proposed to Desta in Bali, and she accepted immediately. However, by the end of the month, their relationship would come to an end.