Byron Campbell: No bail for Ipswich man accused of branding girlfriend with hot knife

A prisoner accused of branding his girlfriend with a hot knife has made a bid for freedom after claiming he had suffered broken ribs and gashes to the head from fellow inmates.

An Ipswich man who allegedly branded his girlfriend with a hot knife so she could be his “forever” has made a bid for freedom, claiming he has been seriously assaulted by other prisoners while in custody.

An application for Byron Conall Campbell to be released on bail was heard at Ipswich District Court on Wednesday, September 14.

He was represented by his counsel and did not appear personally.

Campbell is in custody after being charged with offences including three counts of choking, three counts of assault occasioning bodily harm, one count of deprivation of liberty and one count of assault occasioning bodily harm while armed.

He is also charged with unlawful possession of a Category A weapon and unauthorised possession of explosives.

The court heard Campbell was in a relationship with the alleged victim, a 24-year-old woman, when she was allegedly subjected to shocking violence over the course of a month.

On one occasion he allegedly pressed a large, hot knife against her lower back and when he removed it her skin was attached to the blade.

“You’re mine forever now,” he allegedly told her.

“Everyone’s going to be able to see this scar. It looks like my knife.”

Ipswich Courthouse. Picture: Cordell Richardson

Judge Craig Chowdhury said other allegations included “choking, bending her back on the bed, squeezing her around the neck, dropping her to the ground, kicking her leaving a bruise, grabbing her by the neck and slamming her head against her bedroom wall, punching her in the head causing her to lose consciousness for about ten minutes and then having blurred vision.”

It was alleged the woman came to and found herself tied up and facedown on a bed wearing a choker around her neck.

The court heard Campbell was charged with the weapons offence after the woman’s mother found a gun inside a guitar case.

Police later found ammunition allegedly belonging to him in a cupboard and car.

Campbell was arrested and taken into custody on December 20 last year.

In the 267 days he had spent on remand, Campbell had been seriously assaulted by other prisoners, the court heard.

He claimed to have suffered broken ribs and gashes to the head.

Mr Chowdhury noted no medical evidence or report had been provided from the correctional centre about the injuries.

The court heard the young victim indicated she believed the alleged violence against her was “randomly applied” and the result of “trying circumstances”.

Mr Chowdhury refused the application for bail after taking into account the seriousness of the allegations, the time Campbell had spent in custody and the strength of the Crown’s case.