Brutal attack hidden by lie

A GOLD Coast man strangled his ex-partner until she lost control of her bladder and then lied to police, telling them he had acted in self-defence, a court has heard.

The woman was arrested and a domestic violence order placed against her for two months.

A 49-year-old man, who cannot be named to protect the victim, yesterday pleaded guilty in the Southport District Court to choking his ex-partner until she was unable to breathe in their Coolangatta home, before telling her: “You are going to have brain damage now.”

The court heard the pair had previously been in a relationship in New Zealand but had moved to Australia as flatmates.

On August 7, 2016, the man broke into a fit of rage when the woman asked him to move out, the court heard.

The terrified victim was lifted from the ground and strangled with two hands until she lost control of her bladder.

She had to bang on the walls to try to get the attention of the neighbours, the court heard. Finally breaking free, she ran on to the balcony screaming for help.

The man cut himself with a butcher’s knife and told police he was acting in self-defence, causing police to arrest the woman.

In an affidavit to police three weeks later, the man claimed he was the real victim and officers took a protection order out against the woman.

It wasn’t until October 21 last year that the man was charged with choking the woman.

Prosecutor Clayton Wallis told the court the victim suffered bruising and swelling to her neck and tongue and her voice was hoarse after the attack.

“The allegations made against her resulted in an upheaval of her entire life. She lost her job and was living in her vehicle and endured public shame from being escorted from her residence,” he said.

The woman read a victim impact statement to the court, saying: “I have worked very hard to get justice.”

In sentencing, Judge Catherine Muir said she took into consideration the man’s plea of guilty but did not consider him to be remorseful. “He purposely cut himself so police thought he had been provoked, which resulted in the complainant being taken into custody herself. I consider that a very aggravating feature,” she said.

The 49-year-old man was sentenced to two years and three months jail but will be released after eight months.

SHE LOST HER JOB AND WAS LIVING IN HER VEHICLE AND ENDURED PUBLIC SHAME FROM BEING ESCORTED FROM HER RESIDENCE PROSECUTOR CLAYTON WALLIS