Woodridge husband walks free after violent attack on stepson, cancer-ridden wife

A Woodridge man, who was the primary carer for his wife while she was undergoing chemotherapy, slapped and verbally abused the woman before he strangled her son, a court has heard.

A 42-year-old husband and carer for his wife undergoing chemotherapy, strangled his stepson, slapped his wife and threatened to burn down their house in a violent, verbally abusive rage, a court has heard.

The New Zealand-born man, who now lived in Woodridge, pleaded guilty to one count of assault occasioning bodily harm and one count of strangulation, both domestic violence offences.

Beenleigh District Court heard on March 30 last year, the defendant got into a heated argument with his wife, who was undergoing chemotherapy.

He was his wife’s primary carer during her cancer treatment at the time, but she had asked for a new carer.

That day, he arrived to pick up his belongings and leave the house, where his wife and her three children lived.

He was mad she had not packed his bags for him and made abusive, threatening remarks towards her.

“I’m sick of your kids, you stupid f*****g bitch,” he said.

“You’re a lazy idiot.”

Domestic violence, hair pulling generic. Photo: iStock

He then threatened to burn the house down with his wife’s children inside and used a cigarette lighter to light a fire on a couch in the garage.

He then said he would kill his wife and her three children.

But her 16-year-old son stepped in, put out the fire and told him not to talk to his mother like that.

The man then slapped the teen across the face and choked him against a wall for 20 seconds. He was unable to breath or talk.

His mother tried to help and hit the man with an umbrella, but he slapped her too.

Police and ambulance arrived and the teen was treated for bruises and scratches on his neck.

Judge Craig Chowdhury said the circumstances were very bad.

“You disgustingly abused your wife and the threats show just how out of control you were,” he said.

“Your comments towards your family were appalling, disgraceful and disgusting.

“It is an extremely dangerous thing to choke somebody, it can result in a loss of consciousness or even death.”

The man was sentenced to two years’ jail but immediately released on parole.