Mid North man pleads not guilty to domestic violence offences

A father will stand trial after he allegedly left his children traumatised by terrorising his young son with a samurai sword.

A Mid North father has denied allegedly terrorising his young son with a samurai sword and threatening his partner with a knife.

The man, 39, will now stand trial after the alleged domestic violence rampage left his children traumatised.

Kate Budzynski, for the man, had previously told the court they hoped to resolve the matter with pleas to less serious charges and for the man to be sentenced in the Magistrates jurisdiction.

However, negotiations were unsuccessful and the man pleaded not guilty in the Adelaide Magistrates Court this week to several charges, including assault and threatening to kill or endanger life.

During the man’s unsuccessful bail hearing in December, the court heard the first alleged victim was the man’s partner, who he has multiple children with.

The man denied allegedly terrorised his young son with a samurai sword and threatened his partner with a knife. Picture: iStock

The prosecutor said the man allegedly threatened his partner with a knife, which she provided the police with CCTV footage of.

The court heard the man allegedly pushed his 14-year-old son’s head into a table, causing him to fall to the ground.

He then allegedly threatened his eight-year-old son.

“The accused held a samurai sword 2cm from the child’s face, telling him he would cut him into pieces and put him in a suitcase,” the prosecutor said.

The court heard the children were quite traumatised and had to attend hospital.

“The victim is very scared of the accused … it’s taken a lot for her to come forward and report this matter to police,” the prosecutor said.

“We believe there’s more to the story and we haven’t got the full story yet.”

The court heard when the man was taken into custody he was interviewed and stated he would go home and kill his family when released.
At the time, counsel for the man told the court the charges were “entirely contested” and this was his first time in custody and he had no relevant history.

Magistrate Simon Smart committed the man, who is now on bail, to the District Court for arraignment in November.