Man accused of headbutting partner over failed lunch plans

The man, who the Mail-Times has chosen not to name to protect the identity of the victim, appeared at court charged with recklessly causing injury and persistently breaching an intervention order. He did not enter a plea.

Police told the court the pair were lying in bed one morning when an argument began after the victim said she'd failed to arrange plans for lunch.

It's alleged the accused became agitated and said: "I should just go and have lunch with my ex-partner then."

The court heard the verbal argument escalated to the point where the man started to pull the victim's hair.

Police said the victim reacted and punched the man.

The court heard the accused then grabbed the victim's arm and twisted it behind her back, before later grabbing her hair again.

Police claim the victim grabbed her newborn child and shut themselves in a separate room in the house to try and sleep.

The man allegedly entered the room minutes later and continued arguing with the victim, before headbutting her and grabbing her hair.

The court heard the pair went into the kitchen, where the man applied an ice pack from the fridge to his injuries.

As the argument continued, the man allegedly threw the ice pack at the victim, prompting her to leave the house and call emergency services.

The man told police he was acting in self-defence in a statement given after his arrest.

"Yeah I headbutted her, but it was all in self-defence as I feared for my daughter's safety...She (the victim) was right in my face," he said.

COVID-19 UPDATE:

Magistrate Simon Zebrowski warned the man his behaviour could constitute an act of family violence against the newborn child as well.

"Family violence when children are present or can see is family violence against the child. Many people don't understand that," he said.

"A child who may be sleeping or in another room while their parents are blueing pick up on these things. It affects their psychological wellbeing."

The court was told the pair wanted to resume the relationship and the man was willing to take whatever measures necessary for that to happen.

"That (relationship) is something not to give up on," the man said.

The man told the court he had been managing an injury that had forced him to take leave from work and he feared he could contract COVID-19 in custody.

The magistrate refused bail and remanded the man in custody to appear in court at a later date.

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