Ryan Turmaine jailed for driving car at DV rescuers in Gracemere

A magistrate has praised the response by neighbours to a domestic violence incident where the offender then turned on them, using a car as a weapon to drive at the saviours.

Ryan Christopher Neville Turmaine.

Neighbours who ran to the aid of a mother headbutted by a violent man had their lives put in danger when they became his next target and he drove a car at them, narrowly missing them.

Magistrate Grace Kalhert described the neighbours actions as “heartening” and signalled the public have realised the seriousness of domestic violence.

Ryan Christopher Neville Turmaine, 28, had been arguing and yelling with his partner at their Gracemere home on April 1, 2023, about 5pm and headbutted her when neighbours came to her aid.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Sarah Rowe said Turmaine was overheard yelling “get the f--- inside and where’s my money?” at the victim.

She said he threatened the neighbours and said ‘what the f--- you going to do?’, turning to the witnesses in an aggressive manner and clenched fists.

“He’s then driven a vehicle straight at the witness and her father-in-law who were standing in the driveway,” Senior Constable Rowe said.

“(The car) got so close to the witness that she has felt the wind from the vehicle and the debris hit the back of her neck, causing abrasion to her skin.”

“If you had hit her, you would have killed her,” Ms Kalhert said.

“Fortunately, that didn’t happen but it seems it was, perhaps, through good luck that it didn’t happen because you went within six inches of her … and then you lost control of the car.”

Senior Constable Rowe said Turmaine then drove at a police vehicle, causing it to swerve onto a footpath to avoid collision.

She said he resisted arrest, breaking a glass window of the police vehicle and punching a police officer as they came to assist another placing Turmaine in the pod.

Turmaine was on parole at the time.

Defence lawyer Brendan Gimbert said his client, who had a transient childhood, had worked building sheds, mining and at the meatworks prior to incarceration.

Mr Gimbert said he has seven children aged between 13 and one years old, with another on the way.

He said Turmaine admits alcohol is a problem for him and he has tried to engage with rehabilitation service Helem Yumba as well as abstinence, which “obviously didn’t work for him”.

Ms Kalhert said Turmaine had a concerning criminal history, including an armed robbery in Mackay.

Turmaine pleaded guilty on August 17 in Rockhampton Magistrates Court to two counts of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, one of breaching a domestic violence order, one of obstructing police, one of assaulting police, one of damaging a police vehicle and one of driving unlicensed.

He was sentenced to two years prison, cumulative on a sentence of three years prison he received in November 2022, with 125 days presentence custody declared as time already served.

His parole eligibility is September 1, 2023.

Turmaine was also disqualified from driving for 18 months and his convictions were recorded.