Kenneth James Russell pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm

A man violently assaulted his partner during a drunken argument, pushing her and causing her to fall and hit her head.

Kenneth James Russell pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm when he faced Maryborough Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

A Maryborough man who pushed his partner during a drunken argument, causing her to fall and hit her head, has faced court.

Kenneth James Russell, 66, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm when he faced Maryborough Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

Police prosecutor Balam Selvadurai said on November 23, 2024, police were sent to a caravan park after receiving a complaint about a loud argument.

When police arrived, they spoke to Russell and later spoke to the victim, Sergeant Selvadurai said.

He said officers observed swelling behind her left ear.

The court heard the woman had gone to Russell’s home about 8.30am that morning.

Russell had been drinking alcohol, Sgt Selvadurai said, and he was verbally aggressive, calling the woman a “s--t” and a “w---e”, asking “how much are you going for?”

The woman later told officers no matter what she did it aggravated Russell.

Kenneth James Russell pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm when he faced Maryborough Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

The woman planned to leave about 10.55am, but Russell assaulted her.

The victim attended the Maryborough Police Station on December 13, 2024, to provide a statement, Sgt Selvadurai said.

Russell later told officers he had pushed the woman out of the way, and she fell and hit her head on a bunk bed.

Duty lawyer Warren Hunter said Russell was 66 years old.

The woman “came to stay with him from time to time”, Mr Hunter said.

He said the woman came and drank a “considerable amount of grog” and there were arguments between the two.

Mr Hunter said without blaming the woman for the offending, it was a “two-way street” that day as far as arguing was concerned.

He said Russell lived by himself and was estranged from his family.

Mr Hunter said Russell and the woman were still together and he “took her in when she has nowhere else to go”.

He said it was conceded there was some bruising behind the woman’s ear.

Magistrate John Milburn said he regarded Russell’s actions as serious offending.

He said alcohol appeared to have been a factor in what had happened.

Mr Milburn said as a result of a push, the woman fell and hit her head.

He said he accepted the push was intentional, but what happened after that was not intended.

Mr Milburn sentenced Russell to three months in prison, suspended for an operational period of 12 months, as well as nine months’ probation.

A conviction was recorded.

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Originally published as Kenneth James Russell pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm