A 48-year-old man who was caught on CCTV threatening his partner with a chainsaw has been released by the ACT Magistrates Court, after being sentenced today.
The man was in court on charges of common assault and threatening to kill another person.
He pleaded guilty to both charges but will not have to spend more time in jail after having already served 76 days in custody.
The court today heard that the man had also grabbed his partner's neck and forced her to the ground before punching her three times.
He also threatened to kill her with a chainsaw.
In handing down his sentence, ACT Magistrate Glen Theakston said threatening to inflict injury with a chainsaw was "alarming" and said it "had the serious risk of causing significant injury to her if things got out of control."
He said that both charges were "serious".
Magistrate Theakston noted the defendant wanted the woman to leave his property, but conceded he did not need to act in the way he did.
He further noted that since the man was in custody over the offences, he has been unable to work, causing him to incur a $70,000 debt.
Court shown CCTV footage of the case
Prosecutors showed the court CCTV vision of the man threatening the woman with the chainsaw as she tried to protect herself with a vacuum cleaner pipe.
The man can be heard screaming "You're going to die, bitch. You're going to die," as the woman screams for help.
"I'm going to f***ing kill you, I'm going to kill you," he can be heard saying in the video.
Lawyers representing the man said he "never intended to carry out the threat".
But, the prosecutor said the woman had significant fears for her safety at that moment.
The man disputed some of the facts in the case, and Magistrate Theakston noted that the woman continued to return to the property after the threats.
"What the facts don't really articulate is the way the complainant returns to re-engage," Magistrate Theakston said.
"Having said that … I recognise the harm done to her."
He will now serve a 12-month good behaviour bond.
