The first time she faced court for assaulting her former partner and three police officers, ex-aged care worker Tziporah Malkah was only too happy to see the media – even taking an Instagram selfie with them. However, as she left the Victor Harbor Magistrates Court on Tuesday – fined $1200, but having dodged a criminal conviction – it appeared the I’m a Celebrity and Sirens star was anything but pleased by the attention. She had adopted a demure posture while her drugged, drunken night of face-scratching, groin-punching and arm-biting – prompted by an argument over cannabis and a sick cat – was recounted in court, but it quickly fell away. “I think I got off fairly… it was a really good outcome today, and I’d like to thank you all for coming to share my joy,” she said. Asked if she had a problem with police, Malkah snapped: “I have a problem with you.” Malkah, 44, of Sydney, was formerly known as Kate Fisher and, until January, lived in Port Elliot, south of Adelaide. Her time there came to an end when she was arrested at the home she shared with her then-partner, Guy Vasey. On Tuesday, she pleaded guilty to four counts of assault, one count of resisting police and one count of disorderly behaviour. Police prosecutor Wayne Davison said Mr Vasey had called police due to Malkah’s violent antics. “He had just returned from shopping, she was heavily intoxicated and tormenting him about his sick cat and saying she wanted some pot,” he said. “He activated his telephone to record what was going on as he asked her to stop… she began to throw groceries at him and poured milk on top of his head. “She raised both hands and struck him to the sides of his face four or five times, and in a cat-scratching motion.” Brevet Sergeant Davison said Malkah “was loud, abusive and swearing” toward police when they arrived, refused to co-operate and had to be physically lifted into their cage car. He said she tried and failed to kick one officer in the groin, bite the second on the arm and punch the third in the head before she was restrained in the cells. Malkah was represented in court by Melbourne-based lawyer Michael Kuzilny, was hired, on her behalf, by celebrity agent Max Markson. He said spending 12 hours in police cells had been a sobering experience for his client, who had been taking antidepressants and the sleeping drug Stilnox in addition to drinking. “She has certainly had a taste of the criminal justice system… she had an attitude problem, and she got an attitude adjustment,” he said. “She is not here to blame or justify, but she is happy to be out of the relationship… it was a volatile situation… she is extremely remorseful and embarrassed about her conduct.” Mr Kuzilny said Malkah had “sworn off the grog”, receiving mental health treatment and was in the process of rebuilding her life in Sydney. He said she had arrived there without support – and that Mr Markson “had bought her a mattress to sleep on” – but now had an Elizabeth Bay apartment and was focused on working in the aged care sector. “She accepts these are serious offences… she has written a letter of apology and wishes to apologise to the court, to the police and to her ex-partner,” he said.
