Edward Robert Bonner pleads guilty to wounding

The dark criminal history of a cultural heritage officer has been laid bare in court, where he was being sentenced for throwing a glass at his former partner’s face.

Edward Robert Bonner, 37, pleaded guilty to wounding in a public place while adversely affected by an intoxicating substance when he appeared before Maryborough District Court on Wednesday.

A cultural heritage officer and talented indigenous artist has faced court for a vile attack on his former partner in which he threw a glass at her face at a Hervey Bay hotel.

Edward Robert Bonner, 37, pleaded guilty to wounding in a public place while adversely affected by an intoxicating substance and obstructing police when he appeared before Maryborough District Court on Wednesday.

The court heard Bonner was out drinking at the Torquay Hotel on September 2, 2024, with his 22-year-old former partner when the incident happened.

She wanted to go home about 1.30am and was outside the hotel waiting for him.

When Bonner did not appear, she went back into the hotel into the pokies area looking for him.

When she found him, she hit Bonner on the head, causing a fight to break out.

During the fight, Bonner threw a drinking glass at the woman, causing a laceration to her nose, the court heard.

The incident was captured on CCTV footage, the court was told.

Photos of the injury were submitted to the court.

The court heard Bonner had a history of offending against his partners, including a previous incident where he was sentenced for assault occasioning bodily harm while armed.

Edward Robert Bonner, 37, pleaded guilty to wounding in a public place while adversely affected by an intoxicating substance when he appeared before Maryborough District Court on Wednesday.

In that incident he had asked the victim to perform a sex act and the woman had refused, the court heard.

An argument escalated and she tried to contact police.

Bonner took the phone out of her hand and began punching her before retrieving a knife from the kitchen and making multiple slashes at her, causing cuts to her arms, her upper body and shoulders.

He had threatened to kill her, the court was told.

Bonner had been sentenced to 12 months in prison at that time, the court heard.

In Bonner’s defence, the court heard he had a strong work history and had most recently been working as a cultural heritage officer.

He was also a talented artist, the court was told.

The offending happened when the couple were “on a break” the court heard.

He had the support of his parents and had used his time in presentence custody productively, the court was told.

Judge Anthony Rafter said on the night of the offence, Bonner had refused to leave when the woman asked him to leave the hotel and she had hit him on the head, prompting another patron to ask if he was “going to let a woman hit you”.

Bonner threw his drink on the woman and she chased him, hitting him with her handbag, then the argument continued until Bonner threw the glass at the woman’s head, Judge Rafter said.

Bonner was sentenced to two years in prison, with a parole release of March 7, 2025.

The 150 days Bonner had spent in presentence custody was declared as time served.

He was also sentenced to 40 hours of community service.

Convictions were recorded.

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