A 30-year-old man has been granted bail by the ACT Magistrates Court after allegedly attacking his ex-partner. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
CONTENT WARNING: This article refers to alleged family violence.
It is alleged a man ignored his ex-partner’s screams and punched her in the face so hard that he broke her nose.
On 30 March this year, the 30-year-old allegedly got into an argument with the woman before he grabbed her phone, threw it away, and then punched her in the face.
He then allegedly held her down and strangled her into unconsciousness.
The woman was allegedly left with a broken nose and a bone protruding from her skin from the punch, as well as bruises and scratches.
The man was arrested and charged this week, over a month after the alleged incident, then faced the ACT Magistrates Court on Tuesday (6 May) and applied for bail.
His lawyer said the relationship was over and her client, who worked full-time as a gardener, had moved his belongings out of the home they shared weeks ago.
She argued that bail conditions could ameliorate the risks of his release.
Prosecutor Ahmad Mufti, who opposed bail, alleged the incident started as a verbal argument before escalating into an assault.
He alleged the man was not deterred by the woman recording part of the incident on her phone or by her screaming for help and begging him to stop.
She was now terrified of him, he said.
Magistrate Ian Temby said the alleged incident was concerning and, if true, the man would need to prepare himself for an appropriate level of punishment.
However, he noted how the woman said nothing like this alleged incident had happened before in their years-long relationship, and the man had no criminal history.
“This was, it seems, an isolated, albeit severe, incident that occurred on one night,” he said.
Magistrate Temby granted bail on conditions including that the man live with his parents, not contact the woman or be near her home, not drink alcohol and undertake breath testing when required.
The man, who is not named to protect his ex-partner’s identity, did not enter pleas to his charges of intentionally inflicting grievous bodily harm, strangling a person unconscious and unlawful confinement.
His case will return to court in June.
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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