Melissa Caddick's Husband Acquitted of Assault Charge

Anthony Koletti, the husband of vanished conwoman Melissa Caddick, has been acquitted of a charge of common assault. The 44-year-old hairdresser and part-time DJ had pleaded not guilty to the charge, which stemmed from an alleged incident in a Sydney park in July 2025.

Downing Centre Local Court heard that Koletti was accused of shoulder-barging Julie Brandon, 73, while she was walking her dog. Brandon testified that she was knocked to the ground and was surprised by the collision. She stated that Koletti did not stop after the incident. Another witness, Ericka Van Aalstem, who was with Brandon at the time, told the court she did not see the alleged shove.

Judge Scott Nash ruled that the prosecution had failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Koletti's actions were deliberate or reckless. "I don't know enough about how this collision or strike occurred to make any finding as to his state of mind," the judge stated.

Bodycam footage of Koletti's police interview was presented in court. In the footage, Koletti identified himself in a photograph and questioned the details of the allegation when informed by an officer that a woman claimed he had knocked her over and continued walking. Koletti stated that he had earphones on and would not have heard someone calling out to him. He repeatedly denied any knowledge of the incident, calling it "news to me."

Koletti told the court he believed police wanted to speak with him regarding his wife's belongings, as he had been invited to the station by the lead investigator of Caddick's disappearance. Instead, he was questioned about the alleged assault. "I would have called a lawyer if I had known," Koletti said, expressing his shock at the turn of events.

Melissa Caddick disappeared in November 2020, days after the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) raided her home. She is accused of defrauding family and friends of $23 million through a Ponzi scheme. Her severed right foot, still attached to a running shoe, washed ashore on the New South Wales south coast in February 2021. In May 2023, Coroner Elizabeth Ryan ruled that Caddick was deceased but could not determine the cause of death due to the limited remains found. There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by Anthony Koletti in relation to his wife's death.