Cimmerone Jade Matheson in Rockhampton court after choking girlfriend

An “incredibly large human being” told his girlfriend of only weeks: “The only way you are getting out of this relationship was if you are dead.” WARNING DISTURBING CONTENT

Cimmerone Jade Matheson, 30, choked his girlfriend of only a few weeks three times and told her “the only way you are getting out of this relationship was if you are dead”, Rockhampton District Court heard.Matheson also punched her in the face, head butted her, made stabbing motions towards her while holding a knife and hit the top of her head with the hilt of a machete. Sentenced to four years prison on March 22, 2024.

An “incredibly large human being” whose criminal behaviour has left him with only one family member talking to him carried out “brutish” behaviour towards a new girlfriend so extreme she says she is haunted by his actions.

Cimmerone Jade Matheson, 30, choked his girlfriend of only a few weeks three times and told her “the only way you are getting out of this relationship was if you are dead”, Rockhampton District Court heard.

Matheson also punched her in the face, headbutted her, made stabbing motions towards her while holding a knife and hit the top of her head with the hilt of a machete.

Matheson had a nine-page criminal record including convictions for trafficking drugs, possessing firearms, possessing drugs and violence, the court heard.

VICTIM RELIANT ON MATHESON

Crown prosecutor Tiffany Lawrence said Matheson’s victim did not have her own car, was reliant on him to take her places and was subjected to his control.

“She was not allowed to go places without the defendant,” she said.

“She did not have complete control over her finances, including what could be sent to her biological daughter.”

Over the course of about a month, Matheson repeatedly assaulted the victim, who he accused of infidelity and “setting him up”.

SUFFERED BRUTAL VIOLENCE AT THE HANDS OF ‘INCREDIBLY LARGE HUMAN’

The court heard she tried to leave on multiple occasions, once grabbing hold of a bollard as he tried to carry her back to their room and on another occasion, he hit her head with the handle of a machete.

He also slapped and punched her face, causing her nose to bleed, giving her two black eyes and a swollen nose.

He even followed her to the bathroom and wouldn’t let her close the door while she used the toilet.

Matheson choked the 23-year-old multiple times, threatened to kill her mother or anyone else if the victim told anyone about his offending.

He also put a knife to her throat “with significant force”.

“The victim was scared for her life as she thought he might cut her,” Ms Lawrence said.

The court heard the pair were itinerant and using methamphetamines.

Judge Jeff Clarke said this victim was Matheson’s third for domestic violence that he “exerted his coercive control over” with his DV history spanning 10 years.

He said Matheson was “an incredibly large human being”.

“It’s incredibly concerning that you would behave in such a brutish fashion towards this person,” Judge Clarke said.

MATHESON USING METH AT 14

Defence barrister Maree Willey said Matheson had a prejudicial upbringing, with his mother dying when he was 14 years old and his father allegedly a physically abusive alcoholic.

She said her client started using meth when he was 14 and left school after completing Year 11.

Ms Willey said after Matheson was released from custody in January 2022 and he was staying clear of drugs and seeing his child, but the child moved to Victoria and Matheson went back to using.

SUICIDE WATCH; NOW TRAUMATISED FOR LIFE

Judge Clarke said the victim, in her impact statement, talked of the physical injuries and bruises she suffered, and said “she’s haunted by the entire ordeal”.

“She says she will never forget,” he said.

“She was put on suicide watch.”

Judge Clarke said her pre-existing mental health problems have been exacerbated by this ordeal.

“She has difficulties being alone,” he said.

“She has issues trusting other people.”

Matheson pleaded guilty on March 22 to three counts of choking, one of assault occasioning bodily harm and two common assaults.

Judge Clarke sentenced him to four years prison, cumulative on a 12-month suspended sentence handed down in Rockhampton Magistrates Court in July 2021 which he activated in full.

He declared 370 days presentence custody as time served and set parole eligibility for November 18, 2024.

Originally published as Cimmerone Jade Matheson in Rockhampton court after choking girlfriend