Paul Arnold faces trial after he allegedly ‘refused to let woman leave until she admits she’s a c--t’

A former Darwin City councillor and prominent artist has faced the first day of a trial in which he’s facing multiple assault charges. Read what the court heard.

Former Darwin City Councillor Paul Arnold (right) arrives at court with his barrister Jon Tippett KC on Monday. Picture: Zizi Averill

Former Lyons ward councillor Paul Arnold is accused of repeatedly assaulting his ex-partner and refusing to allow her to leave an argument “until she admits to him that she’s a c--t”, a court has heard.

Arnold pleaded not guilty in the Darwin Local Court on Monday to a string of aggravated assault charges as well as deprivation of liberty and stalking, following the acrimonious break-up.

In outlining the prosecution case, Rebecca Everitt told the court the couple were living together in Bayview in August 2022 when the woman told Arnold she was “done with the relationship”.

Ms Everitt said Arnold “became enraged” during the ensuing verbal argument and blocked her from leaving the room before shoving her into a towel rack as she tried to get past him.

“We then say the defendant lent his head and shoulders back in order to fling his head forwards and headbutt the complainant’s nose with force,” she said.

Ms Everitt said the woman left and told Arnold “the relationship was over” but they reconciled after he sent her multiple apology messages “begging (her) to take him back”.

Then during another verbal argument in December, Ms Everitt said Arnold took the woman’s phone and refused to give it back while again stopping her from leaving the room until she threatened to flag down a passer-by from the balcony.

“The complainant essentially felt hopeless in that situation, that she wasn’t able to leave the room and didn’t have access to her mobile phone,” she said.

Photographer Paul Arnold resigned as a City of Darwin councillor in May last year, citing mental health reasons. Picture: Che Chorley

Ms Everitt said in March last year Arnold struck the woman on the arm with a “plastic bike toolkit” during another argument before smashing her jewellery box and punching her to the left breast.

She said the woman eventually left the house and came back the next day to collect her things.

“We say (he) then refuses to allow the complainant to go back down the stairs until she admits to him that she’s a c--t,” she said.

Two months later, Ms Everitt said Arnold met up with the woman at a sporting event and engaged her in conversation, telling her he would plead not guilty and “his lawyer would destroy (her) to the point that she would leave town”.

She said the relationship resumed at that point and Arnold suggested “that they get married in order for the complainant to be able to utilise purported spousal privilege so that she can’t give evidence in these proceedings”.

Arnold pleaded guilty to smashing the jewellery box as well as damaging some of the woman’s makeup and the trial continues before judge Therese Austin on Tuesday.