A man who assaulted his wife in front of their children has received a suspended jail sentence after pleading guilty in the Supreme Court.
Darcy Williams, 48, was handed a six-month prison term, wholly suspended for 12 months, over the February 2024 assault at the family’s home.
The court heard Williams had been drinking heavily before the incident.
After being woken by his wife, he punched her twice in the head and placed his hands around her throat and neck while she was kneeling on the floor.
The assault lasted about 30 seconds and stopped only when the couple’s seven-year-old daughter entered the room and said: “Stop daddy, no.”
Justice Stephen Estcourt told the court the victim had prepared an impact statement describing the ongoing effects of the assault.
“Her physical injuries were shock, sore lungs, swelling of her throat and a welt behind her ear from the assault,” he said.
“However, she states that she has suffered significant psychological and emotional distress and is being treated for the symptoms of PTSD.”
Justice Estcourt noted Williams’ remorse and efforts to turn his life around, including giving up alcohol, engaging with support programs and having no prior convictions.
But he stressed the seriousness of the offending.
“The application of force to the neck is a serious criminal act and the risks associated with this have been repeatedly acknowledged by this court as resulting in serious injury and death, often within a short space of time,” he said.
He said the presence of children during the assault made the matter more serious.
Justice Estcourt said violence within relationships “involves a gross breach of trust within a relationship” and “requires condemnation, with specific and general deterrence as the dominant sentencing factors”.
Williams’ conviction has been recorded as a family violence offence. No family violence order was imposed.
Family and domestic violence support:
1800 Respect national helpline:
1800 737 732
Lifeline (24 hour crisis line):
131 114
Tas Family Violence Counselling and Support Service:
1800 608 122
