Darryl Roy Bell charged over alleged horror attack on partner

Police allege a Queensland man stomped on his partner’s ankle breaking it and later used her crutches to strike her in the face in a string of brutal assaults. TRIGGER WARNING: Disturbing content

Darryl Roy Bell is charged with assault and assault while armed over a horror attack that allegedly involved him stomping on a woman's foot resulting in fractures to her ankle.

A convicted stalker unleashed vicious attacks on his partner over two months including using a tomato sauce bottle as a weapon, stomping on her ankle causing it to break and later using her own crutches to assault her, police allege.

But the 56-year-old Andergrove man plans to dispute the allegations and argued with the magistrate during a bail bid that the case against him was not strong.

Mackay Magistrates Court heard it was alleged Darryl Roy Bell struck the woman in the mouth with the bottom of a tomato sauce bottle, goading her by saying “you’re going to have to call the cops to get me out black dog”.

“Most concerningly (it is alleged) you stomped on (her) left ankle, which seems to have resulted in her suffering a broken left ankle,” Acting Magistrate Stephen Byrne said.

“She remained on the floor unable to get up, you (allegedly) grabbed beer and milk, poured it over her.

“She informed police she’d lost consciousness for a short period of time.”

The court heard the woman was treated at Mackay Base Hospital for a broken left ankle, fractured jaw and stitches to her upper lip.

It is further alleged Mr Bell used her crutches to hit her on her head and arms causing her to fall to the ground when shoved the couch towards he pinning her between it and the wall.

Mr Byrne said it was alleged he struck her in the face with the crutches.

The court heard she took refuge under a trampoline and it is alleged he used it to “slam down onto her broken ankle on two occasions” before punching her in the face causing her to black out.

Mr Bell is charged with assault causing bodily harm while armed, assault causing bodily harm, common assault and using a carriage service to menace, harass, cause offence between December 2023 and February 2024 at Andergrove and Mackay.

Darryl Roy Bell is charged with assault and assault while armed over a horror attack that allegedly involved him stomping on a woman's foot resulting in fractures to her ankle.

“My client instructs he is disputing the offences before the court,” Mr Yarrow said.

Mr Yarrow said his client, who was in a show cause position, was born in Gladstone but grew up in Mackay, had lived here most of his life and “had a strong connection to the area”.

In pushing for bail release, Mr Yarrow argued any risks could be mitigated with reporting conditions and a tracking device.

Sergeant Hannah Beaumont said there was a strong prosecution case and the complainant’s injuries allegedly “corroborated her version of events”.

The court heard Mr Bell also allegedly sent messages to the woman including threats that he was “going to come and finish (her) off”.

Sergeant Beaumont also argued Mr Bell would certainly receive jail time if found guilty of the offending.

“I further note there will likely be an increase in the charges before the court,” she said, adding the common assault charge was likely to be upgraded to assault causing bodily harm “give (she) was allegedly rendered unconscious in that matter”.

The court heard Mr Bell’s criminal history was littered with domestic violence entries and included two stalking charges, two charges of using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence, as well as 11 breaches of bail and failing to appear in court.

“Not only is he an unacceptable risk of committing offences if released on bail he’s an unacceptable risk of not attending court and he poses an unacceptable risk of endangering the safety and welfare of the (woman),” Sergeant Beaumont said.

Acting Magistrate Stephen Byrne found the police case against Mr Bell to be “very strong”, to which he interrupted with “no it’s not” over the videolink from Mackay watch-house.

“Mr Bell I’m not satisfied you’ve shown cause why you should be granted bail,” Mr Byrne said.

Bail was rejected and matters were adjourned to early March.

Originally published as Darryl Roy Bell charged over alleged horror attack on partner