Heater held against woman, court told
A man held a hot oil-column heater against a woman for 30 seconds during a domestic dispute, the Christchurch District Court was told.
Judge Raoul Neave described Roger Alan Mosen Marshall’s behaviour as “domestic terrorism” as he jailed him for three years.
Marshall had admitted charges of assault with intent to injure, ill treatment of an animal, and injuring with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Judge Neave read 36-year-old Marshall the three-strike warning for repeat violent offenders.
Defence counsel Jeff McCall said Marshall had made the most of his time in prison on remand. He had completed programmes in prison including a stopping violence programme, an anger management programme, and he had a report saying he was a real asset in his NCEA class.
Judge Neave said Marshall had been in a relationship for a month, when in June last year he picked up hot oil column heater and held it against a woman for 30 seconds while shouting abuse at her.
Ten days later he became frustrated by his dog, grabbed it by the collar and tied it to door handle. He then hit it in the head and body.
The next day Marshall argued with a woman, grabbed her by the hair and then put his hands around her neck causing her to lose consciousness.
Judge Neave said the repeated violence on the woman had a significant impact on her, leaving her with emotional scars.
Strangulation was an important trigger of very high risk factors for serious domestic violence. The power and control in the relationship was unhealthy and grossly inappropriate, and that attitude meant that women were treated as possessions instead of as independent women, he said.
Marshall had a history of violence and dishonesty, but there had been a significant level of change in his behaviour since then, and he had taken numerous steps for rehabilitation while in prison, he said.
Marshall had taken every opportunity presented to him and embraced them wholeheartedly, and his pre-sentence report said he accepted full responsibility.
Category: Focus
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