Cairn Magistrate sends ‘Christmas message’ that domestic violence is ‘absolutely unacceptable’

A Cairns Magistrate has jailed a man on 26 counts of breaching a domestic violence order and three of wilful damage, saying the courts need to send a “clear message” that domestic violence is “absolutely unacceptable”.

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A Cairns Magistrate has “delivered a Christmas message” to a Far North Queensland man who held a knife to his partner’s throat, punched her, threatened her, and damaged her property during ongoing and menacing domestic and family violence over several months.

While clarifying the facts of the case, Magistrate James Morton said he was “about to send a Christmas message” to the man, 46, before sentencing him to two years imprisonment on the 29 charges before him.

The man pleaded guilty on Monday to 26 counts of contravening a domestic violence order with aggravation and three counts of wilful damage between March and July this year.

The court was told the man was on a suspended sentence for similar breaches at the time of the offences, and he continued to call the woman from prison after he was remanded in custody.

“This offending strikes at the heart of the community’s dissatisfaction and dislike of domestic violence,” Mr Morton said.

“The court must send a very clear message.

“You have continually caused mayhem, fear and menace and this is absolutely unacceptable.”

Police prosecutor Claudia Verwey described the man’s behaviour as “appalling”.

On one occasion, he held a knife to his partner’s throat and on other occasions, he slapped her, and punched her in the head, causing ringing in her ears, Ms Verwey said.

The woman called triple-0 for help while she barricaded herself in her house on multiple occasions, and police were called by the woman’s mother and her neighbours on other occasions.

Defence lawyer Connor Davey said the man finished school in year 10 locally, and had a solid work history and a strong work ethic, having worked as fish filleter, concreter and mine worker over the years.
He said the man had struggled with methamphetamine addiction for many years.

“It’s the drugs and the relationship that need to cease,” Mr Davey said.
“He works extremely hard Monday to Friday during the week and indulges on the weekend, to put it lightly, and it’s no excuse, just context.”

Magistrate Morton sentenced the man to two years imprisonment on the new offences, and ordered that he serve the suspended sentence cumulatively for the previous offences.

He took into account the 178 days the man had served in custody and fixed a parole date of January 12, 2025.

“There is one person that can do something about this and that is you. End the relationship and the drugs.”

Originally published as Cairn Magistrate sends ‘Christmas message’ that domestic violence is ‘absolutely unacceptable’