Caringbah man Zane Alchin’s domestic violence hearing delayed

The man allegedly choked, spat, headbutted and dragged his girlfriend in several domestic violence incidents over the course of their relationship.

Zane Alchin at Downing Centre Court during a previous court appearance. Picture: AAP Image/Joel Carrett

A Caringbah man who allegedly choked, spat, headbutted and dragged his girlfriend in several domestic violence incidents over the course of their relationship will have to wait three more months to have his case finalised.

Zane Alchin, 32, appeared at Downing Centre Local Court on Monday to defend 16 charges of serious domestic violence against his former girlfriend.

In court on Tuesday, in what was due to be the second day of the hearing, Alchin’s lawyer Wayne Russell was not present due to an injury sustained overnight and therefore the case could not proceed as expected.

The complainant was due to be cross-examined and Alchin was expected to give evidence however that could not occur in Mr Russell’s absence.

The case was adjourned to May 16 and 17 when it is expected to be finalised.

A police statement of facts said Alchin, who lived in Caringbah, was in a romantic relationship with the 29-year-old woman in 2021 and 2022.

The court heard Alchin allegedly choked, spat, headbutted and dragged the woman while they were together.

Zane Alchin during a previous court appearance. Picture: John Grainger

On Monday during the hearing, the court heard from a neighbour living in the woman’s apartment block who allegedly heard about some of the incidents from the woman.

The court heard the complainant allegedly told her neighbour Alchin held her by the throat inside the apartment and at one point she allegedly heard the woman yell “get out”.

The neighbour told the court she was told by the alleged victim Alchin had held her by the throat inside the apartment.

The neighbour told the court she did not see any marks but the woman’s face was “red and puffy”.

The court heard the woman told the neighbour that Alchin “spat on” her and that she encouraged the woman to go to the police and report the matters.

The hearing was hearing in Downing Centre Local Court. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

The neighbour claimed the woman allegedly said Alchin had thrown an ice cream over her during the course of an argument.

The neighbour said she saw it on the woman’s chest, face and hair.

“It was all over her … it subsequently got on me too,” the neighbour said in court.

Alchin allegedly left 230 voicemails where he threatened the woman, used degrading language and said he would go to her house or see her in public.

Alchin was arrested on July 5 last year, and charged with eight counts of common assault, two counts of intentionally choking, two counts of intimidation, assault causing actual bodily harm, damaging property and threatening to kill.

Alchin applied for bail the day after he was arrested and again two weeks later, with it refused on both occasions.

On the day of his hearing at Sutherland Local Court on November 18, the case was delayed and given a hearing date after police had obtained new evidence and statements while witnesses were not present on the date of the hearing.

The case was originally relisted to July 17 and 18 this year in Sutherland Local Court but was then rescheduled to February 20 and 21 at Downing Centre.