EX-NRL player attacked partner
A FORMER Canberra Raiders player told his ex-partner on her birthday “what a time to die”.
Jason Paul Bulgarelli, 42, pleaded guilty to 10 charges in the Townsville District Court yesterday, including five counts of common assault and one count of threatening violence.
He was sacked by the Raiders in 2004 after club officials intercepted a package containing ecstasy.
The court heard Bulgarelli assaulted his partner on two occasions.
In November 2017 in Ayr, on the birthday of his former partner, the two became embroiled in an argument while in a car about drug use and unfaithfulness.
He then hit the woman on the head using the handle of a knife and pushed the blade into her torso area.
Bulgarelli then told her “what a time to die on your birthday”.
The court heard he continued his attack on the woman, making several threats to kill her and held a knife up against her neck.
On December 5, 2017 also in Ayr, Bulgarelli humiliated his then partner by assaulting her as she was at a friend’s house by throwing her on to the bitumen.
Crown prosecutor Dominique Orr said the man had a history of violence against women.
“He finds himself back in court again today for again serious offences against a woman, his defacto partner,” Ms Orr said.
Defence barrister Michael Hibble said the two were in a “dysfunctional” relationship, with Bulgarelli believing his partner was having an affair after finding text messages.
Judge Gregory Lynham sentenced the man to two years’ imprisonment, with Bulgarelli walking free on the same day after having already spent 464 days in pre-sentence custody.
Outside of court, defence solicitor Phil Rennick said Bulgarelli’s family was “relieved” he would be back at home in the Burdekin.
“They’re glad to have Jason at home,” Mr Rennick said.
“Jason is now drug free. He’ll continue on the road to rehabilitation and not use drugs in the future … or hit women and that’s most important.”