Biloela man Adam Bayley choked, suffocates pregnant partner

When the pillow a Central Queensland man used to suffocate his pregnant girlfriend proved too light, he armed himself with a heavier item to continue the job. He then cruelly taunted her with horrifying comments.

Biloela fitter and turner Adam Anthony Bayley, 31, choked and suffocated his pregnant partner over infidelity admissions. He was sentenced on March 28 in Rockhampton District Court to three years in prison.

A Central Queensland man callously choked and suffocated his pregnant partner, telling her to get an abortion during an argument about her infidelity, a court heard.

Adam Anthony Bayley has since signed his name on to the newborn’s birth certificate, a court was told.

The 31-year-old pleaded guilty on March 28 in Rockhampton District Court to one count of choking and one of suffocation.

Crown prosecutor Terance McCosker said Bayley’s victim and partner of nine years was 10 weeks pregnant with their third child when the offences occurred.

Mr McCosker said there was a verbal argument on March 15, 2022, at Biloela where Bayley told her to get an abortion, saying “Have you called for an abortion yet?”, and “You’re useless. I hate your guts. I can’t stand looking at you. You must have the abortion done.”

The argument escalated into physical violence in the early hours of the next morning when Bayley told her “I want to cave your skull in” and then choked her.

After the victim broke free, Bayley pushed her back on the bed and wrapped her in the bedding so she was unable to move.

“The defendant grabbed a pillow and put the pillow over her face to suffocate her,” Mr McCosker said.

“Given that the pillow was not thick enough, he then used part of the doona that was on the bed as well to smother her face.”

He said the victim was unable to breathe and felt dizzy.

She was able to break free and hide in the bathroom, with the court told Bayley taunted her saying she didn’t “bring anything to anyone’s lives” and had “one option – that is to kill yourself”.

Bayley continued to goad her, saying “Before you do (kill yourself), ring so I can get these kids” and then left the house.

Mr McCosker said Bayley’s behaviour showed callousness for both the victim’s and the unborn child’s lives.

Defence barrister Julie Marsden said the victim had admitted to infidelity, which led to the argument about the pregnancy, but her client has since accepted the child is his and signed the birth certificate.

She said the pair have separated but both hoped to establish co-parenting arrangements.

Ms Marsden said the qualified fitter and turner started using methamphetamines in 2016 and the relationship broke down, and his mental health had deteriorated in the lead up to the offending.

Bayley was sentenced to three years’ jail with 193 presentence custody declared as time served. His parole release date was set for July 17, 2023.