Former Test batter turned TV star Michael Slater has announced the death of his father Peter with an Instagram post that simply read, ‘RIP Dad. I love you.’
The 55-year-old revealed the sad news to his followers on Tuesday morning, posting a photo of his dad accompanied by a heart emoji.
Slater’s family tragedy comes just four months after he was sentenced over a long list of serious charges, including domestic violence offences.
Peter Slater and his wife Carole were born in England and emigrated to Tasmania in 1966, before moving to the NSW town of Wagga Wagga, where the cricketer was born.
The ex-opening batter credited his parents for helping him on the way to sporting success.
‘My family was always involved in sport, so from an early age it just seemed natural for me to play any game that was on offer,’ he said in his biography.
Cricketer turned TV star Michael Slater (pictured outside court) has revealed his father Peter has passed away
The former Test opening batter told his followers the sad news with the simple words, ‘RIP Dad. I love you’
The 55-year-old received a four-year jail sentence, partly suspended, after pleading guilty to several serious offences earlier this year
Michael Slater walked free from a Queensland court in April after being sentenced to four years in jail, partly suspended.
He had pleaded guilty to two counts of common assault, one of unlawful striking, assault occasioning bodily harm, burglary by break at night, and two counts of strangulation.
Judge Glen Cash passed the sentence but partly suspended it for time served as Slater had spent more than a year in custody after being refused bail over the offences.
The remainder of Slater’s sentence is suspended for five years, during which he will risk being returned to custody if he commits another serious offence.
Slater posted a worrying message to Instagram six weeks ago, writing, ‘When you’re at your lowest right now knowing you’re not gonna tell anyone because they’ll think you’re seeking for attention.’
That drew a message of support from former England Test skipper Michael Vaughan, who was also Slater’s colleague at Channel Nine.
‘Thinking of you Slats,’ Vaughan wrote.
‘Always remember you mean so much to so many people x.’
Pictured: The worrying message Slater posted on Instagram six weeks ago – which attracted a message of support from former England skipper Michael Vaughan (circled)
Slater was branded an alcoholic by Judge Glen Cash when his sentence was passed
Slater was arrested in April 2024 and had been behind bars on remand until his sentence was passed.
His offences against a woman who he had been romantically involved with saw him face more than a dozen charges, including enter dwelling with intent by break at night, choking, assault occasioning bodily harm, stalking and breaching bail.
The offences were all alleged to have occurred between December 5, 2023 and April 12, 2024.
Police alleged Slater sent hundreds of messages to the woman in which he called her a ‘c**’, ‘escort’, ‘liar’ and ‘sl*t’ several times and threatened to take his own life.
It was further alleged that Slater accessed the woman’s CCTV camera on the front porch of her house on March 17 last year, turning it around to face into her home.
The woman was allegedly alerted through an app on her phone while she was speaking to officers at Noosa Police Station.
Slater was further alleged to have smashed a window to gain access to the woman’s home and assaulted her by grabbing her arm.
It was alleged he also choked her on two different occasions.
Judge Cash warned Slater that his road back from the guilty verdict would be tough.
‘It’s obvious, Mr Slater, that you are an alcoholic,’ Cash said.
‘Your rehabilitation will not be easy. Alcoholism is part of your make-up.’
