Toowoomba dad commits horrific DV act with knife in front of child

A Toowoomba region tradesman who committed a traumatic breach of a domestic violence order in front of his child has fronted court.

The Toowoomba Court House. Toowoomba City police station watchhouse. Picture: Peta McEachern

A Toowoomba-region tradesman has been placed on a good behaviour order for breaching a domestic violence order by committing a horrific and distressing act in front of his child.

Legally the man cannot be named as the charge relates to a domestic violence order.

Toowoomba Magistrates Court was told the tradesman was placed on the domestic violence order in February 2024 and the breach occurred at a Toowoomba region home in July when the pair’s relationship ended.

Police prosecutor Anita Page said the man repeatedly punched himself in the head before holding a knife to his throat and threatened to kill himself.

“At the time the couple’s child was present and able to see (his) behaviour,” she said.

The woman called the man’s mother before grabbing her child and fleeing.

Ms Page said when police arrived the man told officers there was a disagreement over a “minor matter”, and the victim was the “crazy one” noting she was diagnosed with post-natal depression.

When asked about the suicide threat, he told officers “he couldn’t remember”.

The DVO required the man to be ‘of good behaviour,’ when around his former partner and their child.

Magistrate Kyna Morice warned the man that children exposed to domestic violence often suffer from “adverse impacts”.

“That would have been an incredibly traumatic experience for your child,” she said.

“Although I want you to be aware of the significant impacts that your behaviour can have on your child, I expect that firstly you’re probably already aware given that you are now seeing a psychologist but also in the hope that motivates you to continue, if nothing else, with your treatment.”

Ms Morice said the man was “in a slightly different category” than the usual domestic violence offender given he was struggling with his mental health at the time of the offending.

“You have no previous or subsequent breaches of your DVO,” she said.

She noted the father had an irrelevant and dated criminal history and he was well educated man with an excellent working history.

“I accept that if I were to fine you today (as a penalty) that would take away from your family and in some way punish your family for your conduct,” she said.

“You clearly have reflected on the conduct and have taken steps yourself to ensure that you don’t place yourself … and your family in that situation again.”

The man pleaded guilty to breaching a DVO and was placed on a 12-month good behaviour order with a $650 recognisance

Originally published as Toowoomba dad commits horrific DV act with knife in front of child