Ethan John Lancaster granted bail for alleged choking, setting fire to property charges

A Qld mine operator accused of strangling his partner after a fight over infidelity and setting her property on fire applied for bail. Here’s what happened.

The woman struggled to breathe while Engledow was choking her, with the assault leaving her with a bleeding mouth and nose and blood on the walls and floor of her home.

A mine operator accused of choking his partner after accusing her of cheating and then setting her property on fire has been granted bail on strict conditions.

Supreme Court Justice Graeme Crow, who heard the application in Mackay, noted there were differences between two statements the alleged victim gave police after the alleged offending on June 27, 2024, “which is very relevant to the prospects of success”.

Whitsunday man Ethan John Lancaster had been in a relationship with the woman for about four to five months.

Mackay Supreme Court heard the pair had been walking home and Mr Lancaster had been carrying a carton of beer when the argument began.

She told police Mr Lancaster “pushed her into a fence near the property and grabbed her around the neck strangling her”, the court heard.

“(She) cannot recall how many hands (he) used to strangle her, however felt pressure on her neck.

“(She) stated she did not suffer from any pain, difficulty breathing or injuries from this.”

The court heard in another version the woman said Mr Lancaster had been drunk when the pair walked home, when the argument about her allegedly cheating occurred.
She alleged he shoved her against a fence and had a hand pressed against her chest below the throat.

“She says she can’t recall which hand but (he) was using enough force to prevent her from moving,” Mr Crow said.

The court heard she told him “he was hurting her”, and he allegedly replied “do you think I care”.

Justice Crow said in this version she alleged Mr Lancaster “grabbed me around the throat with the same hand that he had on my chest … he began squeezing my throat … I recall I couldn’t breathe or speak as he did this.”

She alleged she though his hand was around her through “for about five seconds but … can’t be sure”.

Mr Lancaster, 22, is charged with choking/strangulation – DV on June 27 and lighting an unauthorised fire on June 28.

It is alleged the day after the choking incident Mr Lancaster set some of her property on fire.

“There is obviously a major difference between the versions which is very relevant to the prospects of success,” Justice Crow said.

The court heard Mr Lancaster had no criminal history and worked as a mine operator at Hail Creek on a seven-on/seven-off roster.

The court heard he accepted the relationship was now over.

“It seems to me that even on the very limited materials I’ve got … I do consider that it is a weak crown case,” Justice Crow said.

Mr Lancaster had been in custody for 12 days and it was accepted there was a risk he could spend more time in custody on remand than if he was convicted of the offending.
Justice Crow granted bail on the condition Mr Lancaster live at a particular address in Dysart when not at work. There are also no contact orders in place.