A major charge levelled against alleged domestic abuser Garry Robert Keehn dropped

A South East man accused of holding a broken ice pipe to his girlfriend’s throat has had his most serious domestic violence charge dropped.

A Naracoorte man accused of bashing his girlfriend while holding a broken ice pipe to her throat has had his most serious charge dropped.

Gary Robert Keehn, 42, appeared in the Mount Gambier Magistrates Court by video link on Monday — after prosecutors elected to drop one count of threaten to kill or endanger life.

Mr Keehn remains charged with two counts of aggravated assault and one count of aggravated assault with a weapon and will continue to be remanded in custody after the Supreme Court overturned a previously successful bail application.

During the earlier bail judgment Justice Sandi McDonald said it was “inappropriate” for Mr Keehn to have been granted bail less than 2km from his alleged victim.

A police prosecutor previously told the court the alleged abuse occurred after the alleged victim confronted Mr Keehn about his drug use.

Gary Robert Keehn has had charges of threaten to kill or endanger life dropped. Photo: Facebook

Police allege the woman was “pinned to the wall” by the man before the woman’s mother intervened, the court heard.

After the alleged incident the woman went back with the defendant to his house, the court heard.

Police claim that during the trip the woman received a text from a male friend – prompting the man to allegedly become so angry he deleted all male contacts in her phone.

While at his home the pair continued to argue before the defendant allegedly “straddled” the woman again.

“(He) held her shoulder and throat and pressed his thumb into her throat,” a police prosecutor said.

“(He) slapped the victim to the face.”

The court heard the man then smashed an ice pipe, holding the broken pipe to her throat.

“If you ever leave me, speak to another man or if you call the cops I will kill you and burn your house down,” a police prosecutor said.

Mr Keehn is now facing two counts of aggravated assault and one count of aggravated assault with a weapon.

Mr Keehn’s defence lawyer Jarrad Sim previously said there were a number of inconsistencies in the woman’s allegations.

“Allegations particularly such as these are very easy to make and very difficult to defend,” Mr Sim said.

Reading from the woman’s affidavit, Mr Sim said it was difficult to believe allegations of a slap occurring.

“Gary raised his right hand above his head and then with all his force slapped me with everything he had,” Mr Sim said.

Mr Sim said there was no evidence of any injury despite Mr Keehn being a very large man.

Mr Keehn will next front the Magistrates Court in December.