Killarney man belts partner in face, ribs after hurling chair at her

The Warwick court heard he left the mother of his child with a cut lip and significant bruising after a series of violent assaults at their home.

IN COURT: The Warwick man pleaded guilty to violently assaulting the mother of his child twice at their Killarney home. Picture: Russell Millard / NCA

A Killarney man who left the mother of his child with a facial wound and large bruises after a series of violent assaults has walked free from court.

An argument broke out between the couple at their Killarney home in January and escalated until the man, who cannot be named, picked up a nearby camping chair and threw it at the woman.

The Warwick Magistrates Court heard his partner was left with significant bruising on her right leg as a result.

Police prosecutor Steve de Lissa said the man’s violence came out again only weeks later on January 30 during another heated conflict between the pair at their home.

“An argument started and he hit her across the face and ribs, causing a cut lip and sore ribs,” he said.

Sergeant de Lissa said the man made only partial admissions to police and a protection order was now in place against him.

The Killarney man appeared in court with a clean criminal history.

Duty lawyer Clare Hine said her client was out of work for several weeks due at the time of the offending, and claimed the stress and pressure exacerbated conflict between the pair.

“He knows his behaviour was really quite atrocious, and he says he has absolutely no excuses,” she said.

“The good news is that when (his partner) rang the police, he had a light bulb moment and thought, “Oh my goodness, what have I done, I’m not this person and I don’t want to be this person’.”

Acting magistrate Gary Finger acknowledged the man’s remorse and efforts to make amends to the mother of his child, but issued a stern warning against reoffending.

“The courts take a very, very low tolerance to this sort of behaviour with men assaulting women, especially in a domestic relationship,” Mr Finger said.

“You’re still together with your partner – why I’ll never know, but anyway.”

The man pleaded guilty to two counts of assault occasioning bodily harm.

He was placed on probation for 15 months and no conviction was recorded.