Ballina: Joel John Nauta pleads not guilty to hitting pregnant woman’s head with shovel

A North Coast man who allegedly hit his then-pregnant partner on the head with a shovel, causing her to faint and be rushed to hospital for stitches, has pleaded not guilty. Read the latest from court.

Joel John Nauta has pleaded not guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, reckless wounding, intimidation and breaching an apprehended violence order. (File picture)

A Ballina man allegedly hit his then-pregnant partner on the head with a shovel causing her to faint and be rushed to hospital for stitches, a court has heard.

Joel John Nauta faced Ballina Local Court via audio-visual link from custody on Thursday.

He pleaded not guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, reckless wounding, intimidation and breaching an apprehended violence order.

Court documents state the 20-year-old man and his then 16-week pregnant partner lived in a tent in bushland near Kingsford Smith Dr, Ballina.

Police allege Nauta became angry and verbally abusive towards the victim when she told him she was having stomach pains in January last year.

The woman had to be rushed to Lismore Base Hospital for treatment following the alleged attack. (File picture)

Police further allege that when the woman picked up an axe to protect herself. Nauta became more enraged before she dropped the axe – believing she would get into trouble if she used it for self-defence purposes.

The accused then allegedly chased the woman and pulled her hair, causing her to scream and cry.

The woman initially told Ballina Police Station officers she had fallen over after the alleged attack. Picture: Savannah Pocock

Nauta allegedly punched her in the face and his behaviour continued to “intensify,” police state.

Police allege Nauta then grabbed a shovel and allegedly swung it at the victim’s head, causing a 2cm cut.

“The blow caused the victim to rapidly lose consciousness,” police state.

The victim woke up feeling “distressed” shortly after with blood gushing from the cut. Another man found her and dialled triple-0.

Nauta faced Ballina Court House from custody. Picture: Savannah Pocock

She was taken to Lismore Base Hospital where she told staff she had “fallen over”.

The woman needed up to three stitches for the head injury.

The pair were called into Ballina Police Station several days later where police saw her head injury and black eye, and she told police she had fallen over.

Police allege the woman was too fearful to make a full report.

A few weeks later the woman went back to the station and made a statement, alleging she was concerned Nauta’s violence towards her would escalate.

Magistrate Kathy Crittenden adjourned the case for hearing on February 26.

Nauta remains bail refused on remand.

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Originally published as Ballina: Joel John Nauta pleads not guilty to hitting pregnant woman’s head with shovel