Woman living in fear after man who attacked her with loaded rifle tried to get her to withdraw complaint from prison

A man described as a “mentor” and champion of on-country programs in Yarrabah has been sentenced to five and a half years jail after a series of violent assaults on his partner.

Farren Warrick Yeatman was sentenced to 5.5 years imprisonment after pleading guilty in Cairns District Court to grievous bodily harm, assault and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

A man described as a “mentor” and champion of on-country programs in Yarrabah has been sentenced to five and a half years jail after admitting to breaking his partner’s jaw, threatening and beating her with a loaded rifle.

Farren Warrick Yeatman, 37, pleaded guilty in Cairns District Court to grievous bodily harm, assault occasioning bodily harm while armed and threatening violence over two separate incidents against the same woman between September 2022 and May 2023, and to attempting to pervert the course of justice between September and November 2023.

Crown prosecutor Nicole Friedewald said the level of violence Yeatman visited upon the woman was severe.

Around October 2022, Yeatman punched his partner in the face, breaking her jaw and causing her to lose consciousness, she said.

The court was told the assault only came to light around one month later when the woman overdosed on paracetamol, which she had been taking to manage the pain of her injuries.

Despite having difficulty eating and speaking after the attack, she was too frightened to go to the doctor, hospital or the police, the court was told.

Ms Friedeman said that, a few months later, on May 8, 2023, Yeatman was again intoxicated when he loaded a rifle inside the woman’s house, pointed it at her, chased her through the house, and beat her with the stock of the weapon several times.

Yeatman, 37, attacked his partner with a loaded rifle, fracturing her arm when she raised it to protect her head.

The woman suffered a fractured arm in the attack when she raised her hands to protect her head, Ms Friedewald said.

He walked outside, threatening to shoot someone else, before someone disarmed him and called police.

Ms Friedewald said the fear the woman felt did not end when Yeatman was remanded in custody because, allegedly with his mother, they made a plan to get her to withdraw her statement to police and say she had lied.

Police who received the amended statement became suspicious and obtained recordings of phone calls from prison between Yeatman and his mother, the court was told.

The court was told Yeatman’s mother is also facing a charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice related to the incident, which will be back before the District Court for mention in March 2025.

Yeatman appeared at his sentencing via video link from prison wearing a large gold cross hanging from a long chain.

He was supported in court by at least 10 family members, including his mother; some relatives provided letters of support to the court.

Defence barrister Aaron Dunkerton said the judge might find it difficult to reconcile the man variously described by family and supporters as a well-regarded Yarrabah mentor, Christian minister-in-training and champion of on-country programs with the man who had also admitted to violent behaviour towards his partner.

“(Yeatman) is studying to be a minister and he was, in the Yarrabah community, a mentor for youth who have lost their way,” Mr Dunkerton said.
“The man described (in the offences) is somewhat at odds with the contributions he has otherwise made in his life.

“He’s very remorseful for what he has done and for everything in the past and he acknowledges that he needs to change and do better.”

Ms Friedewald said Yeatman’s criminal history was an “aggravating feature” as it included convictions for assault occasioning bodily harm and weapons offences.

Judge Tracy Fantin said Yeatman’s criminal history and is prospects of rehabilitation were considerations in sentencing.

Judge Tracy Fantin acknowledged Yeatman, balanced against his history of violence, had extensive support, had laid the groundwork for rehabilitation through his studies, courses in prison, and had reached out to health and community services in Yarrabah for help on his eventual release.

She sentenced him to four and a half years on the offences of violence and to a further 12 months for attempting to pervert the course of justice, to be served cumulatively, setting a parole eligibility date of April 25, 2025 to take into account his plea of guilty and the 605 days he had already spent in custody.

Originally published as Woman living in fear after man who attacked her with loaded rifle tried to get her to withdraw complaint from prison