Bail for choking accused
Man ‘squeezed partner’s neck for 20-30 seconds’
A GOLD Coast man accused of choking his partner and holding a pillow over her face has been granted bail in the Southport Magistrates Court.
The 20-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, hid behind his long brown hair and wore a long sleeve red flannel shirt during the bail application proceedings in Southport Magistrates Court yesterday.
He is charged with multiple offences including choking or suffocation in a domestic setting and wilful damage.
The offences come less than a week after the Bulletin revealed since August at least six men have spent just eight months in jail for choking, strangulation or suffocation charges. The maximum penalty is seven years.
The court heard the alleged terrifying attack started about 6.30pm on Friday night when his 19-year-old live-in girlfriend returned to their unit.
The pair fought about trust issues when the man approached the woman as if he wanted to hug her.
The woman told him “not to touch her” but the man dragged her towards the bedroom. Police prosecutor Sam Hill said the woman escaped and fled to the front door but her partner caught up.
“He pushed her into the wall and she ran to lock herself into the bedroom,” Mr Hill said. Police will allege the man got into the bedroom and the woman fell to the floor.
Mr Hill said the man wrapped his hands around her neck and squeezed for between 20 and 30 seconds.
The court heard the woman told police the man grabbed a pillow and held it over her face for between four and five seconds. Mr Hill said the woman
kicked out at the man and managed to break free. Police will allege the man then grabbed her phone and threw it out the balcony window.
The woman escaped and went to the Gold Coast University Hospital for treatment.
The court heard the man told police he only held the pillow over the woman’s face to stop her screaming.
Defence lawyer Bettina Webb, of Howden Saggers Lawyers, said the man had no criminal history and was not a risk of failing to appear in court.
She said he had the support of his family and his uncle had offered him a place to live.
Ms Webb said there was nothing to suggest the man would not comply with a no contact order or a domestic violence protection order.
She said the man was seeking help for mental health issues he was dealing with.
Magistrate Clare Kelly granted bail on the condition he not contact or go within 100m of the woman and report every Wednesday to police.
She said the man could only return to their apartment to collect his belongings with police within seven days.
The matter was adjourned to March 23.