Kyle Glen Smith choked partner until his belt snapped and admitted he was trying to kill her

An apprentice plumber who blamed his partner for breaking his belt when it snapped while he was choking her “considers himself a family man”. The attack was sparked by a petty reason.

AN apprentice plumber who blamed his partner for breaking his belt when it snapped while he was choking her “considers himself a family man”.

Kyle Glen Smith later admitted he was trying to kill the woman, the Southport District Court was told.

She wants to resume the relationship when Smith is released from prison.

Smith attacked his partner after he stubbed a toe on a chair. He accused her of not pushing the chair in far enough, the court was told.

Smith punched the woman, strangled her with a belt, held a knife to her stomach and flicked a lighter near her face.

The assault began about 1.30am on August 9, 2020 after the pair had taken MDMA and used cannabis.

Smith pleaded guilty in the Southport District Court last Thursday to multiple charges, including strangulation and two counts of assault occasioning bodily harm.

Judge Geraldine Dann sentenced him to three-and-a-half years’ prison to be suspended after he has served a year. She also placed him on two years’ probation.

Smith had been in custody for 310 days.

“It’s inexcusable, it’s nasty and it’s mean,” she said.

“If you are unhappy with aspects of your life, you need to take mature and considered steps to address the things you are unhappy about.

“You don’t turn to drugs and you don’t react violently and perpetrate violence on your partner.”

Crown prosecutor Stephanie Gallagher said the attack started after the argument over the chairs.

Smith punched the woman, drawing blood.

He then used his belt to strangle her and only stopped when the belt snapped.

“Once it broke he blamed her,” Ms Gallagher said.

The woman tried to lock herself in a room but Smith picked the lock and held a knife to her stomach.

Ms Gallagher said Smith would later admit he was trying to kill the woman.

“That is quite concerning,” she said.

Ms Gallagher said Smith told police: “I am not going to allow someone to walk all over me like that and make me feel so f***ing small.”

Defence barrister Jann Taylor, instructed by Gilmore Lawyers, provided the court a letter from the woman, in which she said she wanted to resume her relationship with Smith.

Ms Taylor said Smith had children from a previous relationship and “considers himself a family man”.

She said Smith had previously worked as a scaffolder and started a plumbing apprenticeship which he hoped to complete once he was released.

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