A woman whose partner smothered her with a pillow has been left constantly "looking over her shoulder".
Judge David Robinson recited from the summary of facts, describing an argument over finances which resulted in the defendant attacking his victim in early November 2019.
The man jumped on top of the woman, straddling her upper body as she lay on the bed.
He pulled the pillow from under her head and used it to smother her face, "likely exerting maximum force down upon her" and impeding her breathing until she felt her body go limp.
Judge Robinson called this "coercive offending" as the man was clearly "demonstrating that he can kill".
He added the victim was particularly vulnerable as she was at home and should have felt safe.
Days later he pushed the woman against a wall and punched her twice in the arm.
He then followed the victim into the kitchen, pushing her with both hands into a cupboard, causing bruising to her upper arm.
The court heard the man used alcohol and methamphetamine as a coping mechanism for what had been a difficult life. Judge Robinson empathised but said this did not excuse the violent nature of his offending.
Addressing the man in court, the judge said "the victim wants nothing else to do with you".
The judge did not accept claims of remorse.
He revealed the defendant’s letter to the court simply opened with: "My lawyer told me to write a letter of remorse ... "
The man is serving a lengthy sentence for previous unrelated charges at present and was sentenced to a further 18 months for the assaults.
By Erin Cox
