Man on numerous charges including choking, refused bail

A man has been charged over alleged incidents at Rockhampton and Collinsville and during one of them, the man allegedly wrapped a seatbelt around a woman’s neck, strangling her. Here’s what happened in court during his bail application.

Queensland police crime scene tape. Generic image.

A man accused of driving a woman to bushland before allegedly assaulting her in the back seat of the vehicle, has been remanded in custody.

The 27-year-old, who by law cannot be named, appeared in custody in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on March 8 where he applied for bail.

He is facing eight charges including two counts of choking, common assault and assault occasioning bodily harm.

The alleged offences happened in Rockhampton and Collinsville.

It is alleged that on February 23, the man drove to bushland where he pulled the vehicle over and parked.

It is alleged he coerced the victim into the back seat and pushed her and slapped her across the face.

Prior to that alleged incident, it is alleged the man went into a bedroom and threw the alleged victim onto a bed, hitting her in the left eye and chest area, and he allegedly choked her.

In a separate alleged incident, the man and the victim were in a car when the man allegedly wrapped a seatbelt around the woman’s neck, strangling her.

The woman allegedly struggled but managed to unclick the belt to release it.

During the man’s bail application, the court heard first from his solicitor, Brandon Selic, who said his client was denying the allegations, had a bail address at Collinsville, and was prepared to abide by any bail conditions imposed including a curfew or tracking bracelet.

Mr Selic said given the bail address was “well away” from the aggrieved, the risk could be properly mitigated.

In objecting to bail, Police Prosecutor Courtney Brown said these were “serious charges” and she tendered photographs of the alleged victim’s injuries to the court.

“Your Honour, despite the defendant denying the allegations before the court, the photographs are consistent with the injuries that are alleged by the victim,” Ms Brown said.

“On top of that Your Honour, police do have a full and comprehensive statement from the victim which have allowed these charges to come to fruition.”

Ms Brown submitted the case against the defendant was “moderate to strong, although leaning more towards the strong.”

“There are markings on the cheeks consistent from where she (alleged victim) was pushed into the wall,” Ms Brown said.

“There is a marking on the neck consistent with the strangulation.

“All injuries in the photographs depicted are consistent with the victim’s statement and with the charges before the court.”

The court heard there were two previous domestic violence offences on the man’s history involving him serving jail time, as well as other serious violence offences including grievous bodily harm which also led to imprisonment.

Ms Brown said the Collinsville bail address did not stop the risk of the defendant interfering with witnesses and with modern technology, contact could easily be made with the victim.

“There’s concerns, with power and balance, that the defendant may attempt to intervene with this witness to withdraw the statements as we so often see with domestic violence offences,” Ms Brown said.

Before making his ruling on bail, Magistrate Cameron Press said it seemed the evidence was “moderate”.

“There are some, it would seem some details missing from the allegations I would have thought,” Mr Press said.

The magistrate added the defendant was in a show cause situation so the onus was on him to establish that his continued incarceration would be unjustified.

“I do not find that it would be unjustified,” Mr Press said.

“This defendant has a very worrying criminal history, commencing... where he was convicted of unlawful use, dangerous operation, assaults occasioning bodily harm, going armed as to cause fear, burglary, unlawful use, breaching bail condition, was placed on probation.

“Common assault in the District Court, sentenced to a term of imprisonment... breaching probation order, entering dwelling, failing to stop motor vehicle, burglary and commit, failing to appear, sentenced to terms of imprisonment.

“Convicted of grievous bodily harm, assaults occasioning bodily harm, burglary and commit, assault occasioning bodily harm, sentenced to 18 months, two years and five years’ imprisonment.

“Convicted of grievous bodily harm, supplying dangerous drugs.”

Mr Press said if convicted of these offences, the defendant would almost certainly face a term of imprisonment.

He said the man was an “unacceptable risk” of failing to appear and committing further offences, and bail was refused.

The matters were adjourned to March 22.