Manjimup man faces court over alleged extensive family abuse, barred from contacting alleged victims

A Manjimup man who faces “extremely serious” allegations of persistent family violence towards his then-wife and children has been barred from contacting them. The man, who has not been named to protect the identity of the alleged victims, appeared in Bunbury Magistrate’s Court on Thursday on one charge of aggravated common assault, two counts of persistently engaging in family violence, two counts of engaging in conduct that may result in a child under their care being harmed and committing an act likely to endanger another’s life with intent to harm. It was alleged the offending took place in the Great Southern locations of Denmark, Shadforth and Parryville between October 2000 and June 2020. The court was told of several alleged incidents of family violence the man allegedly inflicted on his then-wife and their children. In one alleged incident, the man was accused of verbally abusing his son before slapping him to the face. When he allegedly attempted to hit him a second time, the son moved his hand away, prompting the man to grab his son by the shirt and say “you think you’re so tough trying to stand up to me”. The man also allegedly threatened to decapitate his son and “shove your head so far up your a... that you s... it out” before wrestling him to the ground and allegedly ramming his son’s head into the timber floor multiple times. The court was also told of another incident when he ordered two of his children to put sheep manure in their mouths when they would not stop bickering and swearing at each other. The court was told of multiple incidents when the man allegedly slapped, pushed and gave “wedgies” to his then-wife, as well as another incident when he grabbed her by the neck and held her upper body over the balcony of her home while confronting her about an alleged affair. Although duty counsel began making a bail application on the man’s behalf, police prosecutor Senior Constable Renai Gildersleeve made an application to have the man be subject to a family violence restraining order, barring contact with his ex-wife and their three children. Magistrate Joanne Andretich granted the restraining orders and made the decision to have the bail application adjourned to obtain a home detention report. The man was remanded in custody with his next appearance due on April 14.