Spear, pillow allegedly used in Harold Kenneth Doughboy’s terrifying Easter weekend attack on partner, court hears

A Laura man who police allege tried to suffocate his partner with a pillow and attacked her with a spear in a terrifying incident over the Easter weekend has made a bid for bail.

A LAURA man who is alleged to have twice forced his partner’s head into a pillow to stop her from breathing before hitting her on the back with a spear has made an application for bail.

Harold Kenneth Doughboy, 22, was arrested in Cooktown over the Easter weekend and charged with assault occasioning bodily harm while armed.

He appeared in the Cairns Magistrates Court on Monday via video link from the Mareeba watch-house, where his solicitor Vincent Knox made an application for bail.

Mr Knox said his client, a worker at Kalpowar Station, had a good work history and lack of other serious history, and it would be open to the court on sentencing to not impose a period of imprisonment.

“He accepts he needs to end this relationship and move away from her given the escalation of his appearances in relation to that relationship,” Mr Knox said.

Opposing bail, Sergeant Debralee Nagy told the court an argument had ensued between Mr Doughboy and his partner and he had “used force to drive her head into a pillow so as to stop (her) from breathing”.

The Cairns Courthouse. Picture: Brendan Radke.

“The aggrieved was able to fight her way out of the pillow to gasp for air before the defendant has again used force to drive her head into the pillow,” Sgt Nagy said.

Sgt Nagy said Mr Doughboy also used a spear as an offensive weapon during the incident.

“The defendant has then with force used the spear, which the aggrieved has felt on her back,” Sgt Nagy said.

“She has fought again to fend off the defendant at which time the spear broke in two.”

Sgt Nagy said the incident could be viewed as an escalation in Mr Doughboy’s offending.

She also said the woman was taken to hospital where she received medical treatment.

Acting Magistrate Raimund Heggie refused Mr Doughboy’s bail, citing the need to protect the aggrieved.

Mr Knox indicated his client was wanting to plead guilty, and the matter was adjourned to May 3 in the Cairns Magistrates Court for a long plea.

Mr Doughboy was remanded in custody.

Originally published as Spear, pillow allegedly used in Harold Kenneth Doughboy’s terrifying Easter weekend attack on partner, court hears