By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
A 25-YEAR-OLD marriage erupted in violence soon after a Casey wife offered to cook her husband some eggs for tea late in the afternoon on 22 April.
The 52-year-old husband, a Cook Islands community leader and forklift driver, apparently told her he preferred tuna, Dandenong Magistrates’ Court was told on 20 June.
He followed his wife into the backyard, ran at her from behind and pushed her with both hands. She toppled onto the grass face-first and copped a blood nose.
She asked the man why he did it. “Because you opened your mouth,” he replied.
Soon after, he told her “he didn’t mean it”; she called the police.
The man made full admissions to the assault, which both parties insisted was their first-ever family violence incident.
Defence lawyer Nadine Daniel told the court the man had a “bad day at work” on the day of the fight but had no excuse.
“It’s an isolated incident and he doesn’t generally react to personal distress in that way.”
Ms Daniel said the act was out of character for the man, who helped young people on the streets.
He was receiving counselling at his church twice a week, the court was told.
Magistrate Jack Vandersteen said he was concerned about the man’s ability to control his emotional triggers.
“The alternative is why don’t you cook yourself? You’re 52 years old … Just because you were at work doesn’t mean a meal should be on the table waiting for you.
“Imagine if she fell back and hit her head and was seriously injured – over nothing.
“I can tell you’re a good person … It just takes one push for something to go horribly wrong.”
Mr Vandersteen took into account the man’s blank history of prior convictions, remorse, good work history and that there was “no suggestion this was other than an isolated incident”.
The man was placed on a 12-month good-behaviour bond without conviction.
