Shane Barker: Nowra man charged with attempted murder applies for bail
The events leading up to an incident in which a south coast man allegedly attempted to drown a woman and choke her in a bathtub earlier this year have been revealed in court.
The South Coast News
Don't miss out on the headlines from The South Coast News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Witnesses to top bikie killing fear retaliation after speaking to cops
- ‘Monster’ university dorm sex crim ‘not proud’, court told
Details of an incident involving a South Coast man who allegedly attempted to drown a woman in a bathtub have been heard in court during a bail application.
Shane Noel Barker, 38, applied for bail in Nowra Local Court on Tuesday. Police allege he assaulted, choked and attempted to drown a woman that was known to him between 6am and 8am on January 24, 2020, at a Nowra address.
During the bail application, defence solicitor Brett Ford said circumstances had changed for the accused since his first bail application.
Barker had been offered a spot at a rehabilitation centre in Richmond and a family member would offer a $50,000 surety for his release, Mr Ford said.
In opposing bail, a representative for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions said Barker allegedly committed the offences as “retribution” after his victim spoke to police about a previous incident.
“He received bail for domestic violence offences. Shortly after he has gone to her home and threatened to kill her,” the solicitor said in court.
Barker is charged with common assault (domestic violence related), two counts of intentionally choke person without consent, attempt to drown person with intent to murder (domestic violence related), and assault occasioning actual bodily harm (domestic violence related), stalk or intimidate intending to cause fear of physical or mental harm, act with intent to influence to procure conviction or acquitted serious indictable offence and knowingly contravene a prohibition specified in an AVO.
Magistrate Gabriel Fleming acknowledged the changed circumstances, but she was not satisfied that the show cause had been met.
“I note he has a lengthy criminal history, a violent criminal history,” she said.
“The nature of the offences is most serious. I am not satisfied that the show cause has been met.”
Barker is yet to enter any pleas to the charges. His matter was adjourned for a case conference and returns to court on September 8.