The 23-year-old man was granted bail in the ACT Magistrates Court on Monday. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
CONTENT WARNING: This article refers to alleged family violence.
A public servant allegedly attacked his partner with a cricket bat on Saturday (25 October), leaving her with serious injuries that sent her to hospital, an ACT Policing spokesperson said.
The 23-year-old man, who works for government in a legal role and has not been named to protect the woman’s identity, faced the ACT Magistrates Court on Monday (27 October).
He was charged with recklessly inflicting grievous bodily harm and committing an act endangering life using an offensive weapon.
Wearing a teddy bear shirt and ‘Star Wars’ pants, he applied for bail. This was opposed by prosecutor Marcus Dyason, who described the allegations as concerning.
The man’s Legal Aid lawyer proposed that he be released on bail to travel to Queensland and live with his mother in Townsville.
“I understand he has the funds to take a flight directly to Townsville from Canberra,” she said.
The lawyer said her client worked in the public service, had no criminal history, and this was the first time he had been charged with anything.
He thought he could find a job in Townsville, she said.
Mr Dyason was concerned about what would happen between his release from custody and his departure from Canberra.
Unless he had an escort until he arrived in Queensland, the court would have serious concerns about him returning to the community, he said.
The matter was delayed for a while, and when it returned, the man’s mother spoke to the court by phone to confirm she would fly to Canberra that night and collect him from the Alexander Maconochie Centre on Tuesday (28 October).
Magistrate Alexandra Burt ultimately granted bail on numerous conditions, including that he be released into his mother’s custody on Tuesday, live in Townsville, not return to the ACT except for legal reasons, engage in counselling, not contact the woman and pay a $2000 surety.
The matter was adjourned to November. The man is allowed to appear in court by audio-visual link.
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