A Canberra man accused of throwing methylated spirits on his partner and threatening to set her alight has been refused bail to attend a great aunt's funeral next week.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
The man, who has not been named to protect the identity of the victim, fronted the ACT Magistrates Court on Friday hoping to get out of jail for just one day.
His lawyer, Peter Woodhouse, said the man would be in the company of his cousin who had promised to call the police if he disappeared.
But prosecutor Isabella Coker opposed bail, saying the 39-year-old still posed a risk of hurting the victim or fleeing.
Documents tendered in court allege the man burst in to the woman's Bonner home at 4am last November, waking her from her sleep on the couch.
She told police she had been shocked to see him because he was supposed to have been admitted to a Sydney psychiatric hospital.
She was going to use the time he was away to pack her things and leave the home and him.
Police allege they fought when the man saw his partner's things packed up. He threatened to hit the woman in the head with a three-litre milk bottle and stomp on her head.
Later that day, he returned to the Bonner home and argued with her again, splashing a half empty bottle of methylated spirits on her and threatening to ignite her with the small lighter he held.
The woman fled the home but before she could drive away her partner allegedly ran towards the car, jumped on the bonnet and smashed the front windscreen. She drove away and later pulled over to call police.
After telling the operator what was happening the man has pulled up next to her and allegedly reached through the window to snatch her phone and flee.
Chief Magistrate Lorraine Walker refused to release the man, who appeared in court via audio visual link.
She said day release was a question more appropriately asked of the prison.
The magistrate also said just because the release was only for a day didn't mean the risk to the alleged victim was any less real.
He is charged with an act endangering life, destroying property, threatening to inflict grievous bodily harm and minor theft.
He has earlier indicated an intention to plead not guilty and fight the allegations.
