Former Deputy Chief Minister Willem Westra van Holthe’s son, Lucas, threatened ex-partner, put family members’ lives in danger, court hears

The son of a prominent former NT politician threatened his former partner and put her and their children’s lives in danger by steering their vehicle into the path of oncoming traffic during an argument, a court has heard.

Lucas Westra van Holthe, 32, appeared in the NT Supreme Court on Thursday to be sentenced for aggravated assault and recklessly endangering life in aggravating circumstances. Picture: Che Chorley

• Former Deputy Chief Minister Willem Westra van Holthe’s son, Lucas, in court on assault, threat to kill charges

THE son of former deputy chief minister Willem Westra van Holthe threatened to burn down his former partner’s business or car and put her and their children’s lives in danger by steering their vehicle into the path of oncoming traffic during an argument, a court has heard.

Lucas Westra van Holthe, 32, appeared in the Supreme Court on Thursday to be sentenced for aggravated assault and recklessly endangering life in aggravating circumstances, after previously pleading guilty to both charges.

Crown prosecutor Steven Ledek told the court the recklessly endangering life charge stemmed from an incident between Westra van Holthe and his former partner on February 17, 2018, days after she broke off the relationship, while she was driving him and their two children through Katherine, where they were living at the time.

Mr Ledek said the pair had argued throughout the trip and at one point the defendant had grabbed hold of the steering wheel.

“As (the woman) straightened up the wheel … the offender reached over, took hold of the steering wheel and turned it sharply in a clockwise direction,” he said.

“The vehicle drifted into the oncoming traffic lane where a large truck was travelling towards the vehicle.

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“(The woman) corrected the steering of the vehicle and it returned to the correct side of the road.”

Mr Ledek said the argument had escalated further when the woman stopped the car.

“The exchange became extremely heated. As the offender exited the vehicle he threatened (her) and said words to the effect of he wanted a c**t like her to die and that she’d better watch her back because … he’d f**k her up every time (he) saw her,” he said.

“He then continued to state he would burn down the car or her business.”

“The offender was enraged and in a heightened state … she was also extremely emotional.”

The court also heard the aggravated assault offending had been against Westra van Holthe’s then four-year-old son at their Katherine home in late 2017, when the defendant, angry after an outburst from the boy, “grabbed (him) around the neck” against a wall and slapped his face, “causing his head to swing to the side”.

Mr Westra van Holthe’s defence lawyer, criminal barrister Jon Tippett, told the court it had been at least three years since the offending and in that time Westra van Holthe had entered a much healthier new relationship, found stable employment and was seeking treatment for his ADHD.

“His circumstances have changed significantly,” he said.

Judge Peter Barr adjourned the case to August 18 to give the defence the chance to request reports into Westra van Holthe’s suitability for home detention and/or supervision on a suspended sentence.

The case is due to return to court on August 18.

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