Inmate Granville Alan Burke contacted partner after domestic violence assault
A Queensland man pledged his love to the partner he seriously assaulted and repeatedly tried to contact while imprisoned. Read what the judge said to him.
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A Mackay domestic violence offender was able to say “I love you” to the woman he seriously assaulted – and she replied she loved him in turn.
On May 16, 2021, Granville Alan Burke called her a “dog” and violently bashed her, continuing to strike as she fell to the ground apologising to her attacker.
Crown prosecutor Michelle Parfitt said he had stolen her phone and a bottle of her vodka before locking her out of the house they had shared for about 12 months.
“(When she got inside), he punched her to the face and headbutted her multiple times and she fell to the ground”, she said.
“He continued to punch her and smashed her head into the concrete.”
Ms Parfitt told Mackay District Court the victim suffered bruising to her left eye and the left side of her face, but still wanted to maintain contact with her partner and was present in court.
The court heard Burke and the woman have been together for 11 years and share two children.
Judge Gregory Lynham heard Burke had an extensive criminal history in both Queensland and Western Australia.
Burke was arrested the next day May 17 and had remained in custody on remand for 505 days.
While in jail and under a strict no-contact order, Burke repeatedly asked his mother to contact his partner.
Ms Parfitt said between July 15 and August 16, he contacted his victim 15 times by himself and by asking others in prison to contact her.
Despite this, Burke apologised to the court that he had misunderstood the no-contact order when a letter from the victim with her mobile number arrived in jail.
“I haven’t been able to speak to (her) since the time that I assaulted her”, Burke said.
“I love her with my heart and soul.”
“Well, you don’t go around bashing someone you love, Mr Burke,” Judge Lynham said in reply.
Burke repeatedly interrupted proceedings, including during sentence, admitting he was “vocal” and insisting on his “right to speak”.
“I know you’re vocal, it’s probably what’s got you into trouble in the past”, Judge Lynham said.
Burke agreed “it has, Your Honour”.
Defence barrister Sheridan Shaw told the court her client was raised in a “loving household” and, per a continuous work history, had “generally been an employed and productive member of society”.
He pleaded guilty to charges including assault occasioning bodily harm and breaching a domestic violence order – he was jailed for six months and a parole date related to other offending pushed back to July 17, 2023.
The 505 days spent waiting in pre-trial custody were not considered time served.
Burke also had his driver’s license mandatorily disqualified for two years for an evasion offence.
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