Ashmore man Christopher Kowitz pleads guilty to assaulting his partner

An Ashmore man strangled and threatened to kill his partner after an argument turned violent, with the victim said to have “felt the bones in her throat snapping”.

Ashmore man Christoper Kowitz, 35, pleaded guilty in the Southport District Court on Wednesday. Picture: Facebook

A court has heard a woman “felt the bones in her throat snapping” as her partner strangled and threatened to kill her.

Ashmore man Christopher Charles Kowitz, 35, pleaded guilty to two counts of strangulation and single counts of common assault and threatening violence in the Southport District Court on Wednesday.

The court heard Kowitz and his partner went to the beach on February 17, 2024.

On the drive home, the pair had an argument as Kowitz was angry his partner did not stop the car so he could buy vapes and she was upset by the attention she perceived Kowitz had given their friend who wore a G-string at the beach.

Kowitz then became verbally abusive and they continued to argue when they got home.

The victim was sitting on a couch in the bedroom when Kowitz grabbed her by the throat, leading her to fall to the ground.

He then got on top of her and strangled her, swearing at her and saying “I’m going to kill you” and “you’re going to die”.

The victim saw black spots and lost consciousness for “a few seconds” before telling him to “f--k off”.

The woman, who was having difficulty breathing, stood up and Kowitz grabbed her by the throat again, lifting her into the air for between five and six seconds.

Crown prosecutor Nathan Tuttle told the court the woman “felt the bones in her throat snapping” and believed he was “going to crush her throat”.

The woman then left the bedroom and slumped onto the floor next to the dishwasher when Kowitz grabbed her by the throat and yelled at her to “get my keys”.

He then left the property and the woman called a friend, with police and paramedics called to the home.

The woman sustained multiple injuries including a perforated eardrum, fractures in her throat, significant swelling and bruising to her neck, jaw, ears and feet.

Days later in the early hours of February 19, the victim was in bed when Kowitz returned to the home.

He told the victim he had crashed his car with police and the dog squad looking for him.

Kowitz then told the victim he was going to kill her.

Kowitz’s counsel, Nick McGhee, said his client had consumed alcohol at the beach and “lost his self-control” when he committed the offences before the court.

During sentencing, Judge Jodie Wooldridge said the relationship at the time between Kowitz and the victim was “deteriorating” and had “elements of volatility and toxicity”.

She sentenced Kowitz to three years in jail but with time served, he will be released on parole on August 24 this year.

Originally published as Ashmore man Christopher Kowitz pleads guilty to assaulting his partner