By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A man has been remanded in custody after allegedly threatening to kill his mid-pregnant partner and to give her a home abortion with a hook.
The man, who was charged by Endeavour Hills police, has denied making the threats at the partner’s address in late August, Dandenong Magistrates’ Court heard on 15 November.
Police prosecutor Senior Constable Tracey Arnold told the court that after several days of the pair arguing, the partner lay next to the accused in bed about 7am on 21 August and sought to talk about the state of their relationship.
The man started verbally abusing her, and the partner declared she wanted to leave him.
The man allegedly told the woman she was not allowed to leave.
He grabbed her by the hair and dragged her from the front door to the lounge room, Sen Const Arnold told the court.
The 20-weeks pregnant woman was allegedly thrown on the couch. Her attacker then locked the front door and drew shut the blinds, the court heard.
Until police arrived, the man made deadly threats, threw and damaged property and told her “I’ll hook you and give you a home abortion”, Sen Const Arnold said.
Police found the woman screaming on the floor. She unlocked the front door and ran out to the lawn in “hysterics”, the court heard.
The man was found by police on the house’s roof and was arrested.
He was also initially charged with possessing six unregistered snakes which were found in fish tanks at the home, including in the partner’s child’s bedroom.
Defence barrister Huw Roberts argued that the snakes were owned by the man’s partner.
Magistrate Jack Vandersteen advised police that it was best to withdraw the snake-possession charges, declaring them to be a “red herring” to the more serious allegations.
Mr Vandersteen warned Mr Roberts not to call the accused’s family as witnesses in order to launch a “collateral attack” on the complainant.
The case was adjourned for a contest hearing at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 12 December.
