'Don't date this man': DV victim's warning about killer

A terrified 42-year-old mother and domestic violence survivor has issued a desperate warning after the man that violently suffocated and bashed her was set free by a Queensland judge.

A PETRIFIED domestic violence survivor has slammed a Queensland judge for letting her abuser go free and warned other women to not get involved with the convicted killer.

Michelle* - a 42-year-old mother-of-three - was in Brisbane District Court on Thursday to watch Karl Francis Whitney plead guilty to four assault charges as well as strangulation, wilful damage and driving without a licence.

The 47-year-old mechanic was sentenced to three years in jail, but can immediately apply for parole.

Whitney violently suffocated and bashed Michelle in December 2017 and just seven months later - in July 2018 - he strangled and beat his new female partner, Mary*.

Whitney has a lengthy history of violence against men and women, including a manslaughter conviction.

He stabbed to death the brother of a former lover in the early 1990s and was released from jail just 2.9 years into an eight-year sentence for that killing.

"I am sickened by his release," Michelle said, saying she endured ongoing violence throughout their two-year relationship.

"I am scared.

"I am petrified and worried that he will come after me - I do not understand why he has been released from jail.

"To any other woman who falls into his web, please think about the value you place on your own life.

"I am worried that his next victim will end up dead."

Karl Whitney

In his final attack on Michelle, Whitney squeezed her throat, put his hands over her mouth, pinched her nose so she could not breathe, threatened her with an axe and tyre iron, knocked her over, ground his boot into her breasts and chest and kicked her.

Michelle said she looked at his face and he "seemed to be enjoying" his attacks on her.

After Michelle broke free and went outside to escape him, he walked up and slammed his boot into her kidneys, causing extreme pain.

Whitney started dating Mary and it was shortly after moving into her Stanthorpe home that he subjected the middle-aged mother to severe abuse.

During his final assault he strangled Mary after she told him she was ending the relationship.

Calling Mary a "dog" and a "slut', the former Fraser Coast man grabbed her and dragged her from the bathroom, put his hands over her mouth so she could not breathe before putting his hands in her mouth, trying to rip her mouth open.

QUEENSLAND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICES

1. DVConnect Womensline: 1800 811 811
2. DVConnect Mensline: 1800 600 636
3. 1800RESPECT national hotline: [phone]

"You need to shut the f--- up and not let the neighbours hear," he told the terrified woman.

He held Mary against a wall, bashed her around the ribs and used a clothing item to try to strangle her until she almost blacked out.

Brisbane District Court Judge Michael Williamson told Whitney he was rarely lost for words but the defendant's crimes were so brutal that he struggled to find a word to describe them.

"I regard the choking of your former partners as serious examples of this type of offending," Judge Williamson said.

"It was violent, but fortunately there was no loss of consciousnesses and the injuries could have been so much worse.

"The consequences could have been so much worse.

"It was terrifying - you should be ashamed, there was no expression of an apology."

Karl Whitney

Whitney plans to move from South Brisbane to Warwick to care for his ageing mother when he is released from jail this week.

Whitney's immediate release on parole was in response to him spending more than a year on remand.

*Michelle and Mary's names have been changed.

*For 24-hour domestic violence support call the national hotline 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732.

- NewsRegional

Originally published as 'Don't date this man': DV victim's warning about killer