By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
A PAKENHAM man has been refused bail after being accused of twice falsely imprisoning and smothering the face of his former partner in her home.
The man, who had been living with his mother, was alleged to have argued with the victim at the Hastings home, covered her mouth with his hand and dragged her into her bedroom about 5.30pm on 3 January.
He did not heed her pleas for release until the following morning – on the condition she didn’t phone triple-zero, Dandenong Magistrates’ Court was told on 8 February.
Less than two weeks later, the man waited in her garage and after an argument, he refused to allow the partner to leave the property.
Again the man covered her nose and mouth area. She feared she would be killed as she struggled for breath.
Hours later she had her breathing vents covered by his hand as he dragged her back from a balcony. He left, carrying her mobile phone.
The alleged violence breached intervention and community corrections orders protecting the victim and two children, informant Senior Constable Snooke told the court.
“She believes he was drug-affected at the time of the offence.
“She’s tried to do the right thing for his mental health issues and it’s not working.”
She said the most recent intervention order was granted due to the man threatening to harm himself in front of the victim and children last year.
Another set of victims, the man’s ex-wife and children, were also protected by an intervention order in “similar circumstances“ in 2012.
The man had pinned the ex-wife to the ground, strangled her and pulled out a knife, which he threatened to use to kill her and their child, the court was told.
Defence lawyer Nigel Leslie said his client should be granted bail “by a narrow margin” because he had a stable address, his mum’s support, was willing to submit to a curfew and regular reporting to police, and was found suitable for CREDIT bail.
Magistrate Jack Vandersteen said the man had breached every prior court order including a suspended sentence.
Each of the man’s prior convictions related to family violence on top of the most recent “very serious”allegations.
“They’re repetitive in nature. There’s been family violence against more than one partner.
“In my view the Crown’s case is strong.”
Mr Vandersteen refused bail because there was an unacceptable risk of reoffending and interfering with witnesses.
The man was remanded to appear at Frankston Magistrates’ Court.
