Toowoomba man guilty of strangling wife walks free

A Toowoomba man has been sentenced to a community-based order after he pleaded guilty to strangling and hitting his ex-wife because the woman had not prepared dinner for his mum.

A Toowoomba man was sentenced to a suspended term of imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to committing disgusting acts of domestic violence against his then-wife.

The Toowoomba District Court heard Qais Ahmad Aziz assaulted his ex-wife on November 23, 2022, where they lived with his mother and siblings.

Crown prosecutor Nicole Friedewald said the 25-year-old attacked the woman because she and his mother had argued.

Aziz sided with his mother who was angry with the woman for not preparing dinner, and told his wife his mother was entitled to hit her.

Qais Ahmad Aziz leaving the Toowoomba courthouse after pleading guilty to strangling and hitting his ex-wife over a dinner dispute.

The court heard the woman told him she was leaving and began packing her bags, and when she continued to do so despite Aziz’s protest, he then pushed the woman onto the bed, slapped her, and began to strangle her.

“She had difficulty breathing and fought against him,” she said.

“(His) mother entered the room as this was happening, she told her son… to stop.

“(She then) stood up and her mother-in-law slapped her to the face.”

The court heard the woman began yelling at the pair and was again slapped, however this time by Aziz.

The woman made a number of attempts to leave the home, however the family would not let her leave, so she waited until they fell asleep and snuck out.

Ms Friedewald said when questioned by police the following day, he denied his actions.

A victim impact statement provided to the court said the woman was “broken”, had isolated herself from the community and her friends, and she no longer trusted men.

Her statement said she was still having nightmares and had difficulties sleeping.

Defence barrister Doug Wilson said Aziz witnessed violence as a child while living in a refugee camp and suffered a number of eye issues which caused him to lose a significant amount of his sight.

Mr Wilson said the legally blind man was his family’s breadwinner which was a significant stressor for him, causing anxiety and depression, as his eyesight continued to deteriorate.

On Thursday, February 1, at the Toowoomba District Court, the bottle shop and service station attendant pleaded guilty to common assault and strangulation in a domestic violence setting.

He was sentenced to a two year and six month jail term, with immediate parole.