Matthew James Smith jailed over horrific domestic violence attack

A meth-using father of five has been jailed for a horrific attack on his partner involving a steak knife and strangulation, a court has heard.

DV, domestic violence, generic. Photo: iStock

A meth-using father of five has been jailed for a horrific, attack on his partner involving a steak knife and strangulation, a court has heard.

Matthew James Smith, 33, pleaded guilty in Beenleigh District Court on February 21 to choking and attempting to pervert justice (domestic violence offences).

The court heard that on August 23, 2021 in Yarrabilba, Smith got into an argument with his partner that turned physical.

He pulled out a steak knife and went towards the victim who then fled into her room.

The victim failed to stop Smith from entering and he strangled her for 30 seconds with his right hand until she couldn’t breathe.

The court heard Smith was arrested on March 6, 2022 and released on bail the same day.

Smith told the victim the next day over the phone to drop the strangulation charge which led to him further charged with attempting to pervert justice.

The court heard this was not the first time Smith had been before the courts for violent offending — he was sentenced in November 2021 for common assault and wilful damage.

The court heard that on March 16, 2021, Smith was angry at the victim attempting to leave home and punched the wall.

He missed but continued his outburst and ripped a door handle off his car before punching the woman twice in the head.

He was sentenced to a 12 month probation order on that occasion.

The court heard Smith worked as a truck driver, was a father of five and was a methamphetamine user.

Judge Rowan Jackson KC said the only appropriate outcome was a sentence of imprisonment.

“That is something that can never happen again,” he said.

“Domestic violence is the scourge of our society and it cannot be tolerated.”

Smith was sentenced to three years in prison, with immediate parole release having already served 349 days of pre-sentence custody.

The court heard he has other unfinalised matters, so will not be released from custody immediately.