The 37-year-old man was remanded in custody when he first faced the Magistrates Court. Photo: Albert McKnight.
CONTENT WARNING: This article refers to alleged family violence.
When a girl tried to stop her father from assaulting her mother, she became the target of his abusive behaviour, police allege.
The violence began when the 37-year-old father allegedly assaulted his wife in southern Canberra on Monday evening (27 October), an ACT Policing spokesperson said.
This alleged attack took place in front of their daughter, who is still a child, and she tried to intervene.
But when she did, her father allegedly assaulted her as well and also threatened to strangle and kill her.
His wife then intervened in his attack on their daughter, before he continued to assault her.
“Later that evening, police attended the residence and placed the man under arrest,” the police spokesperson said.
The man was handed nine charges and faced the ACT Magistrates Court on Tuesday (28 October) where the matter was delayed for a lengthy period while his lawyer, Legal Aid’s David Bloomfield, obtained instructions from him via an interpreter.
When court resumed, Mr Bloomfield said his client would enter not guilty pleas to all charges and would not apply for bail.
He said he had taken his client through the allegations, so Magistrate James Lawton said he would not formally read the man his charges.
Magistrate Lawton remanded the man in custody and listed the matter for a pre-hearing mention in December, as well as for a bail application in November, at Mr Bloomfield’s request.
The man, who is not named to protect his family’s identity, was charged with five counts of assault, one count of choking, two counts of threatening to kill a person and one count of threatening to inflict grievous bodily harm.
If this story has raised any concerns for you, 1800RESPECT, the national 24-hour sexual assault, family and domestic violence counselling line, can be contacted on 1800 737 732. Help and support are also available through the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre on 02 6247 2525, the Domestic Violence Crisis Service ACT 02 6280 0900, the Sexual Violence Legal Services on 6257 4377 and Lifeline on 13 11 14. In an emergency, call Triple Zero.
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