Man accused of choking and hitting partner with car is refused bail
A court has heard disturbing allegations of repeated attacks against a vulnerable woman, including choking and vehicle assault, as a Scottville man’s bid for freedom fails.
A Whitsunday court has heard shocking allegations of a man’s repeated violence against a vulnerable woman including hitting her with a car and choking her.
Michael Allan Fordham applied for bail in the Bowen Magistrates Court after being accused of committing violent crimes against his partner.
The Scottville man was charged with 10 alleged offences including assault, assault causing bodily harm, multiple counts of choking, damaging police property and dangerous operation of a vehicle. He has not entered any pleas.
Police allege Fordham jumped on his victim, grabbed her phone, and choked her in a violent episode on May 27.The alleged victim told police she passed out and later woke up thinking “why did I have to wake up”.
Police allege they were met by the victim at the home who they noted had blood on her face and a laceration to her arm which she said occurred a few days prior but had reopened.
She told police a physical altercation had occurred causing the cuts on her face.
The court heard police found Fordham hiding outside the home where he made admissions to getting into a physical fight where he sustained a cut to his finger.
The alleged victim was taken to Collinsville hospital but did not provide a statement to police as she said she did not want Fordham to get in trouble.
On July 24, Fordham allegedly asked the victim to get in the car and come with him.
After refusing the woman allegedly gestured for him to drive away; in response he allegedly gestured for her to pass in front of the car but when she did he accelerated, hitting her with the bullbar before driving away police allege.
The incident was caught on CCTV, the court heard.
The alleged victim declined to make a statement, telling police she had consumed alcohol and didn’t want to get Fordham in trouble.
It is also alleged Fordham asked his partner to go to Bowen with him on August 3.
The court heard she told police she did not want to go, but went with him as she feared he would assault her if she didn’t.
She said she didn’t raise her concerns with the public because she was “scared”.
Police allege the victim was on her phone in the car when Fordham snatched it from her before stopping the car and demanding she exit the vehicle.
She refused and Fordham allegedly opened the passenger door and pulled the victim out by the hair.
When she tried to walk away, he allegedly barged her with his body before pushing her backwards into a car and onto the ground.
The court heard he allegedly got on top of the woman and grabbed her by the throat.
She allegedly got back in the car to avoid being assaulted further, where Fordham started slapping her in the face and hitting her with a plastic water bottle, allegedly telling her she was “dead” and that he was going to “bury her”.
Fordham then allegedly got out of the car and picked up a rock, and the alleged victim told police she unlocked the car door because she was scared he would damage it.
He then allegedly pulled her out of the car by her hair again, kicked her, and struck her with a metal Yeti water bottle.
The court heard two witnesses intervened, taking the victim to a service station where they called police.
The alleged victim was taken to hospital for treatment of her injuries where she provided a statement to police.
Fordham was allegedly located by police on August 6 where they say he made some admissions and told police he had dumped the woman’s belongings in a bin.
The court heard Fordham had already spent 91 days in custody, but the prosecution argued they did not support granting him bail due to the risk he would commit further offences against the victim.
Cleo Rewald appeared on behalf of Fordham, telling the court the more serious offences would be contested and noted he did have the presumption of innocence.
She said there could be a delay of six months before indictment was presented and, on top of that, further court calendar delays.
Magistrate Anna Smith said the evidence against him was strong and if he were to be found guilty he could expect a penalty of years of imprisonment rather than months.
“He won’t be spending time in custody that would exceed any sentence he would receive,” she said.
She was not satisfied there was a risk of him failing to appear in court as he had no history of that and noted there were conditions that could be imposed to ameliorate any risk.
Ms Smith also noted the victim was more vulnerable than ordinary.
She said cause was not shown and bail was refused.
The domestic violence matters were committed to the district court.
The remaining matter of damaging police property was adjourned to December 9 for mention.
