Sarah Hanson-Young pens character reference for domestic violence offender
Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young told a Canberra magistrate her “close friend” who slapped his wife was a man of “very good character”.
Canberra Star
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Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young vouched for the “very good character” of a domestic violence thug, who pinned his wife down and slapped her in the face.
The man, who cannot be named, is a Canberra politico who Ms Hanson-Young describes as of normally “very good character”.
In a character reference Ms Hanson-Young provided to the ACT Magistrates Court, she said first the man a decade ago, “shares some very close mutual friends” and “consequently became very close friends ourselves.’’
The dispute, on December 23 last year, began when the victim asked the man to peel some potatoes for Christmas lunch, which he refused, yelling at her and calling her “mentally unwell”.
Court records show that as the argument escalated, the man grabbed his wife and started pushing her forcefully towards the couch of their Canberra home.
As the argument escalated, the woman tried to hit back but was physically “overpowered by the defendant”.
“The defendant used his body weight to pin (his victim) to the couch. (She) attempted to kick the defendant in order to get him away,” police facts say.
“The defendant slapped (the woman) with an open hand on the left side of the face. (She) felt immediate pain to her face.”
The couple’s young daughter rang triple-0 after walking in on the attack, which was also witnessed by their son.
The woman told her attacker: “You have ended our marriage because I will never be physically abused.”
“The defendant made an admission that he had slapped (the woman). The defendant said that he was not injured,” court records say.
He told police that the woman threw a spoon at him and tried to bite him, but police did not see any bite marks on him.
He was bundled off to the city watch house, where he declined an interview.
Ms Hanson-Young said she was “very surprised, indeed shocked” when told the man had been charged with common assault and would plead guilty.
“It seemed very out of character,” she said.
“I do not know the precise details of the incident but I can confirm I have never seen, nor heard of, any behaviour by (the offender) that is remotely violent or otherwise aggressive.”
The written reference was penned on Ms Hanson-Young’s official letterhead.
Ms Hanson-Young successfully urged Special Magistrate Margaret Hunter to not record a conviction, saying: “As someone who works in politics I understand precisely what reputation means in public life.”
“In my view a criminal conviction would have a severe and unwarranted impact on his reputation and consequently his work.”
Ms Hanson-Young’s reference says the man was “very supportive” of her “standing up to … bullying behaviour” in federal parliament.
She said she was “struck” by the man’s newfound “genuine concern for the wellbeing of (the victim) and their children”.
“This concern is much more the behaviour I am used to witnessing, not the aggressive, violent suggestion of an assault charge,” Ms Hanson-Young’s reference said.
“I cannot reconcile the person I know as acting in any way criminally; out mutual friends are also of this view.
“I am happy to attest to his good character.”
In a statement to the Canberra Star, Ms Hanson-Young provided more details as to why she gave the character reference.
“No conviction was recorded in this matter,” she said.
“I was asked to provide a character reference for the husband. I did this with the full support of the wife, whom I also know.
“I do not condone domestic violence, any suggestion otherwise is absurd.
“In the interest of the family concerned and their privacy, I don’t intend to make any further comments.”