Australian radio personality Kyle Sandilands has revealed that a high-flying Sydney banker, David Cao, 37, who is accused of a violent attack on his boyfriend in a French hotel, was previously in a relationship with former Kyle & Jackie O show personality 'Intern Pete' Deppeler.
Sandilands made the connection live on air after newsreader Brooklyn Ross detailed the allegations against Cao. "My God, that's Intern Pete's Asian banker boyfriend!" Sandilands exclaimed. "Been in my house, that bloke! That's why I recognise him. He's been in my home."
French authorities allege that Cao struck his partner, Callum Forbes, with a hot saucepan and poured boiling water over him on July 28 at the Château de Perreux boutique hotel. The couple had reportedly booked a suite for the night and planned to travel to Amsterdam for the World Gay Pride festival.
Guests and staff allegedly heard screams from the room, and hotel workers found Forbes seriously injured. Cao reportedly fled the hotel in a rental car and was apprehended approximately 36 hours later in Lille, near the Belgian border. He has been charged with attempted murder, kidnapping, theft, torture, and acts of barbarity.
Sandilands described Cao as a "sweetheart" during the time he knew him and expressed disbelief at the accusations. "Not the man I met," he stated.
The Daily Mail reported that Cao and Deppeler dated for a few months in 2020, but the relationship did not end amicably. Deppeler declined to comment when contacted by the publication.
Individuals familiar with Cao have described him as "highly strung." A former colleague at the Bank of Queensland characterized him as "annoying" and possessing an "inflated opinion of himself," adding, "He wasn't an executive, he liked to think he was."
Cao's professional background includes roles at various financial institutions, including Westpac, the Bank of Queensland, Commonwealth Bank, and Goldman Sachs. His LinkedIn profile highlighted his professional achievements and interactions with notable figures like former Qantas CEO Alan Joyce. He also served as a board member for Rainbow Giving Australia, an LGBTQI organization.
According to his Rainbow Giving Australia biography, Cao worked to "drive enterprise, systemic change to build a culture of inclusion (and) increase diverse representation" at Westpac and foster an environment where employees felt "safe, valued and belong."
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance to Forbes, who is recovering in hospital. Cao is expected to return to Australia within two weeks and will remain in custody pending trial. Australia has an extradition treaty with France, which could lead to Cao's return to Australia if certain legal conditions are met, including the offense being recognized in both countries and formal extradition requests being approved by French courts.