Former Darwin Councillor Paul Arnold fights stalking, abuse allegations in final submissions

A former Darwin councillor will wait until January to learn his fate after making a final bid to contest multiple domestic violence offences, allegedly committed against his ex-girlfriend.

A former Darwin councillor will wait until January to learn his fate after making a final bid to contest multiple domestic violence offences, allegedly committed against his ex-girlfriend.

Former councillor Paul Arnold is contesting several domestic violence related charges including multiple counts of aggravated assault, damage to property, as well as depriving a person of liberty, stalking, and breach of a DV order.

Darwin Local Court this week heard allegations Mr Arnold destroyed his then-partner’s property, including punching a cupboard, chucking down her makeup bag, throwing items at her, and using “vile” slurs, threats and intimidation tactics.

It was alleged this escalated to violence with a push into a towel rack, a headbutt, punches to the chest, and another incident of smacking her with a metal bottle-shaped bike tool kit.

Mr Arnold denied all allegations, apart from pleading guilty to one count of property damage for throwing her jewellery box.

His lawyer, Jon Tippett, said the woman was not scared of Mr Arnold, and accused her of airing “nasty and deceitful lies”.

Former City of Darwin Lyons ward councillor Paul Arnold with defence barrister Jon Tippett KC outside the Darwin Local Court after pleading not guilty to assault, deprivation of liberty and stalking. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Mr Tippett acknowledged it was a “volatile” relationship with “blazing rows”, but rejected it escalated to violence, and Mr Arnold “certainly respects her boundaries”.

Prosecutor Rebecca Everittsaid by August 2022 the “veil” Mr Arnold had been able to maintain had begun to “fall down”.

She said what was exposed was a “controlling” man who was “aggressive, and ultimately violent”.

When the woman tried to leave their Bayview apartment in March 2023, Mr Arnold allegedly smashed a mirror.

When she returned for her items, Mr Arnold allegedly verbally abused her and refused to let her leave “until she admitted she was a c--t”.

Two months later, Mr Arnold allegedly breached his DV order and approached her at a sporting event.

Ms Everitt said Mr Arnold initially harassed and threatened to “run her out of town”, but after hours of talking they “rekindled” the relationship.

She told the judge there was a “cynical” motive to this reunion: an attempt to dismiss pending criminal charges against him.

Former City of Darwin Lyons ward councillor Paul Arnold outside the Darwin Local Court on May 20, 2024, after pleading not guilty to assault, deprivation of liberty and stalking. Picture: Jason Walls

Ms Everitt said within 48 hours of getting back together Mr Arnold was “love bombing” the woman and talking about “eloping in Cairns” so she could not be forced to give evidence against him in a criminal case, while also pressuring her to contact police.

Mr Tippett denied an ulterior motive, saying Mr Arnold sincerely believed they had consensually reunited.

The woman ended the relationship days later.

Mr Tippett said what happened next was a legitimate attempt by Mr Arnold to contact the woman he cared for, but Ms Everitt called it a campaign of stalking and harassment.

It was alleged that across eight days Mr Arnold repeatedly called and texted the woman and left sobbing voicemails, with the alleged harassment culminating in a five-hour period where he called her 15 times on June 11, 2023.

“She felt scared and trapped,” Ms Everitt said.

Mr Tippett argued Mr Arnold did not intend for the messages to be intimidating, Judge Therese Austin said it could be seen as an attempt to “wear (the woman) down”.

Ms Austin said she needed time to assess the submissions, adjourning her final decision to January 31.