Gary Robert Keehn accused of threatening to kill his girlfriend while allegedly brandishing a broken ice pipe
A South East man accused of committing a distressing act on his girlfriend using a broken ice pipe may be granted bail to live less than 2km from his alleged victim.
Mount Gambier
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A South East man accused of threatening to kill his girlfriend while holding a broken ice pipe to her throat may be bailed to live roughly 2km away from his alleged victim.
Gary Robert Keehn, 41, appeared in the Mount Gambier Magistrates Court by AVL accused of making the threats after consuming drugs at a friend’s place.
A police prosecutor told the court the alleged victim felt uncomfortable at the friend’s house and confronted Mr Keehn about the drug use when they had left sparking an argument.
The victim was allegedly “pinned to the wall” by the man before the woman’s mother intervened, the court heard.
Despite the assault the woman went back with the defendant to his house, the court heard.
During the trip the woman received a text from a male friend – prompting the man to allegedly become so angry he deleted all the 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.
The Naracoorte man was charged with two counts of aggravated assault and one count of threaten to kill or endanger life.
Mr Keehn’s defence lawyer Jarrad Sim said there were a number of inconsistencies in the woman’s allegations and applied for bail.
“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.
Magistrate Koula Kossiavelos questioned why the alleged victim would go back to the home of a man who had just allegedly abused her.
“She alleges an assault in front of her mother and her mother intervened – why would she go with him to his house after she was pinned against a wall?” Ms Kossiavelos said.
The man lives just under 2km from his alleged victim, with police prosecutors objecting to all forms of bail.
Ms Kossiavelos granted bail for the man. However, police prosecution have applied to have the application reviewed by the Supreme Court.
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