Cohen Flannery: Latrobe man guilty of wounding partner in relationship’s dying days

A young Tasmanian man assaulted his partner twice in the dying days of their troubled, drug-fuelled relationship, including a missile launched at the victim’s face that left him hospitalised.

Latrobe man Cohen James Flannery, 20. Picture: Facebook

A young Tasmanian man assaulted his partner twice in the dying days of their troubled, drug-fuelled relationship, including a missile launched at the victim’s face that left him hospitalised.

Latrobe man Cohen James Flannery, 20, was sentenced in Burnie Supreme Court on Monday after pleading guilty to a count of wounding and two of breaching a nationally recognised domestic violence order.

The court heard Flannery and his boyfriend went to Devonport’s Pub Rock Diner on the evening October 29 last year, not returning home until about 4.30am the following morning, by which point they were “tired and intoxicated”,

An “intense” argument ensued, Justice Tamara Jago said, which resulted in Flannery picking up an unspecified item from a nearby counter and throwing it at his partner, who was seated on a bed.

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The item struck the man on the chin, causing a 5cm laceration that ultimately required stitches in hospital, the court heard.

Flannery left the residence and subsequently sent his partner messages threatening self-harm, constituting the second breach of the domestic violence order, in addition to the wounding itself.

The order had been in place since earlier in October, the court heard, after Flannery damaged his partner’s phone and assaulted him while the pair were in Melbourne.

Latrobe man Cohen James Flannery, 20. Picture: Instagram

Flannery pleaded guilty before a Victorian court to charges of criminal damage to property and unlawful assault. The charges were adjourned without conviction, upon Flannery entering into an undertaking.

Justice Jago told the court that Flannery’s relationship with his former partner had been marred by significant consumption of alcohol and illicit drugs. She accepted Flannery did not mean to hit his partner with the thrown object.

She noted that he had engaged with mental health professionals in the wake of the offending, had repartnered in what was described as a “loving and supportive relationship,” and was working in the fast food industry and aspired to become a carpenter.

“Since the end of the relationship the defendant has significantly reduced his alcohol use and has ceased illicit drug use,” Justice Jago said.

“He is motivated to lead a productive lifestyle and put these difficulties behind him.”

Flannery intended on moving to Melbourne to be closer to his new partner, Justice Jago said.

She sentenced Flannery to six months’ imprisonment, wholly suspended for an operational period of two years, and a 12-month community corrections order.