Aman Aneja refused bail over strangulation, assault allegations

Confronting and “concerning” footage depicting a man allegedly hitting and strangling a woman while she cradled an infant has been played to a Geelong court.

Geelong Law Courts. Picture: Alan Barber

Confronting footage of a man allegedly hitting and strangling a woman while she cradled an infant has been played to a Geelong court.

Aman Aneja, 31, applied for bail in Geelong Magistrates Court on Friday, facing charges including non-fatal strangulation, reckless conduct, making threats to kill and assault with a weapon.

Magistrate Gerard Bryant refused bail, telling the court he was not satisfied there were compelling reasons and Mr Aneja was an unacceptable risk to the safety of a person or persons.

It was Mr Aneja’s second application for bail, having earlier applied on May 19, the court heard.

Police prosecutor leading senior constable Chris Sinfield played three snippets of CCTV footage to the court, taken across one evening in May between about 8.20pm and 10.40pm, allegedly depicting “protracted” offending against the victim.

In the first, Mr Aneja can allegedly be seen hitting a woman in the head several times in front of a child.

About twenty minutes later, in the second clip, he can be seen on top of the woman, allegedly strangling her she cradled an infant child in her arms.

The third clip was taken two hours later and allegedly depicts Mr Aneja grabbing the woman by the hair.

Nominal informant Detective Acting-Sergeant Luke Wraight gave evidence at the hearing and told the court Mr Aneja was further alleged to have threatened the complainant with a knife.

The court heard the victim received treatment at Royal Melbourne Hospital and police were awaiting to receive medical notes.

Mr Aneja’s lawyer acknowledged it was “very concerning footage” but highlighted that his client had been in the country for seven years and it was the first time he had come to the police’s attention.

The lawyer argued there would be an element of delay in the case, with the prosecution awaiting medical evidence and needing time to finalise the brief.

The lawyer told the court Mr Aneja, who has been in custody for 11 days, had employment, a suitable bail address and been assessed as suitable for supported bail through the Court Integrated Services Program (CISP).

He said Mr Aneja “normally doesn’t drink a great deal” but was intoxicated at the time, has “no memory” of the incident and was “horrified” by it.

Having viewed the footage, Mr Bryant noted the “ferocity” of the “sustained assault”, which was allegedly committed in a “savage and brutal fashion”.

The footage was captured on an internal security system inside a residence, the court heard.

Mr Bryant said one inference that could be drawn from the presence of an internal security system was that Mr Aneja was “a coercive and controlling individual” who “endeavoured to keep (the victim) under some form surveillance”.

“That is one interpretation, your honour” his lawyer replied. He said his instructions were that the CCTV system had been installed for security purposes.

Mr Bryant said he didn’t believe that assertion was credible.

Mr Aneja will reappear in court on Monday.

Originally published as Aman Aneja refused bail over strangulation, assault allegations