Smithfield Plains man allegedly burns girlfriend with pipe, threatens housemate
A meth-addled man allegedly heated his pipe and burnt his girlfriend on the arm before returning to her house three more times in a terrifying rampage of violence.
North & North East
Don't miss out on the headlines from North & North East. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Anger prompted by his girlfriend throwing a lighter on their bed prompted a meth-user to burn his partner with his flaming-hot meth pipe, a court has heard.
Samuel William Cochrane, 34, from Smithfield Plains, on Monday faced the Elizabeth Magistrates Court charged with three counts of assault, one aggravated, and possessing a prohibited weapon.
Those charges stemmed from the meth-pipe burn accusations as well as a trail of alleged terrifying encounters between Mr Cochrane, his ex-girlfriend, her housemate and her housemate’s partner from Thursday.
A police prosecutor, opposing bail, told the court Mr Cochrane had been living with his ex-girlfriend for two weeks when, in the grips of a meth binge, he allegedly heated his pipe with a lighter and held it onto the back of her arm, burning her.
The court heard, Mr Cochrane, a forklift driver with Bluescope Steel, then left the house before allegedly returning two days later, laying down on the housemate’s bed and saying to the housemate “you can either lay down and suck my d*** or get the f*** out of my house”.
Then, police alleged, he grabbed his ex-girlfriend by the hair and dragged her out of her room.
The following day the ex-girlfriend went to drop some belongings off to Mr Cochrane who, holding a whip in his hand, allegedly thought she had tried to steal from him, calling her a “thieving sl**”.
He then, police alleged, locked her in a bedroom, grabbed her by the hair and throat, squeezing it for four seconds.
The court heard Mr Cochrane then left before allegedly coming back to the house and cracking a whip out the front while his ex hid under a table.
Mr Cochrane’s mother, who was present in the courtroom, wept as the allegations against her son were read out.
A police prosecutor said Mr Cochrane had a significant prior history of offending, including assault charges.
Sarah Reid, duty solicitor for Mr Cochrane, told the court her client did not accept the allegations against him.
“He strongly denies the allegations,” she said.
Magistrate Justin Wickens granted Mr Cochrane bail in the sum of $500, with residential and drug conditions.
Mr Cochrane would again face the court in November.
Stolen car leads cops to find guns, ammo in Kilburn raid
Two men and a woman will face court after the discovery of a stolen car at a pub led police to allegedly find guns and ammo at a nearby home.
‘It was me, sir’: Expert unpacks bloodied killer’s confession
It was the shock moment caught on camera of a “dishevelled” Cody Edwards in the aftermath of killing Synamin Bell. Watch the footage and see the expert analysis.