Threatened to kill partner

Drunken behaviour in which he repeatedly threatened to kill his partner and shoved the end of a baseball bat into his mother’s stomach, brought commun ity work and supervision for 22yearold Malachi Rex StadenLea.

He had been convicted of intentional damage, threatening to kill and possessing an offensive weapon (a baseball bat) in circumstances showing intent to use it to commit an offence involving the threat of violence, at Milton on December 30.

The police summary said StadenLea and his partner had been in a relationship for about 10 months and were at home, about 2.15am. Both had been drinking alcohol.

StadenLea became verbally aggressive towards his partner.

He punched a hole in a door between the lounge and hallway, kicked a child’s plastic table across the room and damaged a wallmounted photo frame with his fists.

And he repeatedly told his partner he was going to kill her.

When his mother spoke to him in his bedroom, he was verbally aggressive and demanded she leave.

Walking down the hallway, his mother heard him shout and turned to see him brandishing a baseball bat.

He took a swing with the bat, hitting the wall and narrowly missing her.

Fearing she would be assaulted, his mother retreated.

StadenLea then shoved the end of the baseball bat into her stomach. As she was leaving, he swung the baseball bat again, striking a door.

Counsel Chris Lynch said the incident had been a big wakeup call for StadenLea.

‘‘He says it would never have occurred had he not been intoxicated.’’

StadenLea had not drunk alcohol since. He intended to continue to abstain, had attended counselling and was willing to undergo a Stopping Violence programme, Ms Lynch said.

The judge acknowledged StadenLea was remorseful, had been to restorative justice and had ‘‘stayed off the turps for a period’’.

‘‘Hopefully, you’ve learned you and alcohol do not mix,’’ he told him.

On the offensive weapon charge, StadenLea was sentenced to 150 hours’ community work.

The two other offences brought nine months’ supervision (with conditions including requirement to undergo a domestic violence programme, and a drug and alcohol assessment and any followup).