FORMER TV presenter Kelly Landry gave explosive evidence in court today that she suspected something unusual about the relationship between her yachtsman husband Anthony Bell and Nine sports reporter Erin Molan.
The former model and Getaway TV presenter gave evidence that on the night Mr Bell and his crew celebrated their recording-breaking win in the Sydney to Hobart race, she sent him a text message, “I know about Erin,” followed by, “just saw her run to you.”
The shocking allegations were heard at Downing Centre Local Court yesterday where Ms Landry, 37, is seeking a final apprehended violence order against her multi-millionaire accountant husband.
The court heard Mr Bell texted back, “Not wearing that. I’m calling her now to tell her of your accusation because it’s not fair to her or to me for that matter.”
Wearing a white, long-sleeved blouse and floral print pencil skirt, Ms Landry was cross-examined by Mr Bell’s lawyer, Ian Temby QC about the furious text message exchange on December 28 last year.
“Did you at the time suspect your husband of infidelity with that woman?” Mr Temby asked.
“I suspected something was going on between them but not necessarily infidelity. I thought their relationship was odd.”
Molan, who works for Channel Nine has vigorously denied having a relationship with Mr Bell and recently got engaged to her policeman boyfriend Sean Ogilvy.
The dark side of the power couple’s marriage was exposed in court yesterday as Mr Bell fights the AVO application against him.
Ms Bell claims she feels threatened and intimidated by Mr Bell who she says has physically assaulted her twice in their five-year marriage.
Ms Landry also complained that her husband was financially controlling, once telling her psychologist that even though her husband was worth $100 million she was paid, “Less than the nanny.”
Ms Landry agreed under cross-examination that she enjoyed a “high-quality” lifestyle with overseas holidays twice a year, five star hotels, first class flights and purchased designer handbags and jewellery.
But she said every purchase had to be first approved by her husband.
“Just because this says this on paper, doesn’t mean I had access to any of this ... This was all at his discretion,” Ms Landry said.
She told the court Mr Bell regularly put money on a credit card for her as well as giving her $1000 a week — half of which she spent on groceries.
Mr Temby suggested that $300 of the $1000 allowance was spent on groceries.
“Have you been shopping in a supermarket in the Eastern Suburbs? It’s about double (that),” Ms Landry replied.
She said every expense that was not related to groceries or their family had to be approved by her husband. That included bills from specialist doctors.
“I had to send invoices onto his EA,” she said.
Ms Landry denied her husband had paid an $89,000 tax bill on her behalf saying he “funnelled” his own tax expenses through her.
Mr Temby accused Ms Landry of using the AVO application as leverage in their divorce proceedings so she could obtain the financial provisions she was seeking in Family Court.
In a text message exchange on January 6 Ms Landry wrote, “I think I have a way of getting it withdrawn,” and, “I have engaged a lawyer and can start getting the papers drawn up if you want.”
Ms Landry denied she was using the AVO to get him to sign the divorce papers.
“I wanted him to accept an undertaking in the family law proceedings that would be the same wording as in the AVO so that the matter could remain private but I could still be protected,” Ms Landry told the Magistrate.
She later said she never wanted the breakup to be exposed in open court.
“Airing our dirty laundry is not something I ever wanted,” she said.
Landry’s friends, Harper Bazaar associate editor Eliza O’ Hare and former Seven in-house Casting Director, Joanna Kerr both provided statements on the marriage.
Ms O’Hare was asked by Mr Temby if she felt “threatened,” by Mr Bell on the night of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race victory celebrations.
“Never,” she said.
The hearing continues tomorrow.
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