Cleaner withdraws sex assault claim

A CLEANER who accused a Gold Coast millionaire of sexual assault and harassing her has withdrawn her allegations.

Carly Smith, the wife of exbikie Steven Smith, had accused management rights baron Paul Picone of sexually assaulting her when her cleaning company was contracted to some of Mr Picone’s buildings.

She claimed the alleged assault happened the morning her husband stabbed Mr Picone in the chest at Firth Park, Mudgeeraba on August 1, 2018.

Mr Picone has always claimed any sexual encounter with Mrs Smith was entirely consensual. Police investigated and no charges were laid.

Mr Smith stabbed Mr Picone in the chest before fleeing.

He was stopped by police doing traffic control nearby. A knife was found in his car.

Mr Picone’s lung was punctured, causing it to fill with fluid and hospitalising him for days. He was also left with significant bruising to his face and large, dark purple bruising on his torso, from his ribs down to his waistline.

Mr Picone had gone to the park because he thought Mr Smith wanted to talk about an overpayment made to the cleaning company.

In June, Smith was sentenced to a four-year jail term.

Mrs Smith launched a Peace and Good Behaviour application in Southport Magistrates Court last year alleging Mr Picone had sexually assaulted her, harassed her and had family members contact her to make threats.

Mr Picone denied all the allegations.

Mrs Smith’s lawyer Troy Smith, of Moloney MacCallum Abdelshahied Lawyers, told the Southport Magistrates Court on Wednesday: “Since the last adjournment the parties have reached an agreement and I have instructions to withdraw the application.”

Magistrate Pamela Dowse withdrew the application.