PARENTS IN SIEGE TERROR Threat to kill own kids in horrifying stand- off
A TOWNSVILLE couple threw knives at police and threatened to kill officers and their own children during a siege after the Department of Child Services tried to remove the kids from the pair’s home.
The man and woman, who cannot be named to protect the identity of their children, pleaded guilty in Townsville District Court to a total of 20 charges over the 2 ½ - hour stand- off last year.
Crown prosecutor Will Slack said DOCS workers went to the couple’s home on January 25 to remove the pair’s daughters, aged 1 and 3.
They were refused entry and returned later with police.
Mr Slack said the pair threatened to kill police, sometimes while holding knives.
“( The mother) threatened to kill herself and her children after police had asked them to leave the house,” he said.
The man threw a knife towards police and bared his buttocks at officers. “( He resisted) arrest, which involved trying to bite two police officers after taunting them that he had hepatitis B and rubbing his own blood on to a police officer,” Mr Slack said.
The pair also started a small fire in the house, smashed an upstairs window and threw glass objects and knives from the window at police.
A video of the siege was played to the court, with a man heard to say “I will kill for my kids. It’s one of you motherf--- ing dogs”.
Mr Slack said the father had a more serious criminal history and should receive a longer jail term.
Defence barrister Harvey Walters said the pair, both aged 25, had been together for seven years. He said the woman had been in care from when she was aged 5 to 18.
“The prospect of my client’s children being taken into care was particularly distressing,” he said. “She became very upset and emotional.”
Mr Walters and fellow defence barrister Travis Schmitt said the pair had been under the influence of substances.
Mr Schmitt said the children were now living with the man’s mother. He said the couple were seeking treat- ment t and d workingki on reuniting with their daughters.
“There’s no excuse for what happened … it was disgraceful. ( The man’s) behaviour was without excuse. I’m instructed to offer his sincerest apologies to the police officers,” he said.
Mr Schmitt said the man did not in fact have hepatitis B.
The father was convicted of four counts of threatening violence, six of serious assault, two of wilful damage and one of committing an indecent act.
The mother committed two counts of threatening violence, three of serious assault and one each of making threats and wilful damage.
Chief Judge Kerry O’Brien said the offences were of “great concern”.
The father was sentenced on Friday to two years in jail, with parole release on February 22. The mother was sentenced to one year in jail, with immediate parole release.
The pair had already served 23 days and 24 days in custody respectively.