'I will crash and burn everything': woman allegedly launched hammer and crowbar attack

CONTENT WARNING: This article refers to alleged family violence.

A woman is accused of arriving at her ex-partner’s home, beating down his front door and threatening his neighbour with a hammer and crowbar.

The 51-year-old from Belconnen started the incident by texting her ex several threats over the phone on Saturday (29 September), police allege in court documents.

“You are not stopping what is about to go down,” she allegedly texted him.

“I will crash and burn everything. You have no f-ing idea about what I’m prepared to do.”

She allegedly showed up at his unit complex in Dickson that afternoon carrying what he thought was an axe and the pair argued before she left.

However, about two hours later, the woman allegedly returned to her ex’s home and began hitting his front door with a hammer.

“I’m going to kill you. I’m coming in, you piece of s-t,” she allegedly yelled.

The man’s neighbour alleged that as she heard the screaming and sound of wood splintering, she opened her door to see the woman, who turned to face her while brandishing a hammer and crowbar.

“I’m going to kill you. I’m gonna smash you in the head, too,” the woman allegedly yelled at the neighbour.

The neighbour said she thought she had no choice but to defend herself, so she grabbed a metal pole from inside her apartment and she and the woman got into what police described as “a scuffle” before the alleged attacker was forced back down the unit complex’s stairs.

The woman allegedly fled when police arrived and hid near a building’s dumpsters.

Police soon saw her outside her ex’s units again. She allegedly thrashed around and resisted being arrested. Officers say they found a hammer in her bag.

The woman, who has not been named to avoid identifying her ex-partner, faced the ACT Magistrates Court on Monday (30 September).

She didn’t enter pleas after being charged with single counts of attempted burglary, damaging property, possessing an offensive weapon, resisting a public official and two counts of threatening to kill a person.

She applied for bail, and Special Magistrate Sean Richter said the main issue was the risk of her allegedly returning to her ex’s home.

“She’s had enough forethought to have her with a hammer and a crowbar,” he alleged of the incident.

“I didn’t bring a hammer and a crowbar,” the woman said.

Her lawyer, Legal Aid’s Lesley Jayasuriya, said her relationship with the man had ended recently.

“My instructions are that the relationship has well and truly ended,” he said.

He said she didn’t work and had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and borderline personality disorder.

Prosecutor Ryan McKenzie, who opposed bail, alleged her “obsession” with her ex and the actions she was willing to carry out transcended any bail conditions the court could impose.

The ex didn’t want any more contact with her, he said.

Special Magistrate Richter said the allegations were “very serious”. But he said while it was “a tough balancing act”, he would grant bail on strict conditions.

These include the woman staying at her home unless she’s in the company of her daughters or there is a medical emergency, not contacting her ex and not being in Dickson.

“If you’re found by police in the suburb of Dickson, you can expect to be arrested and you can expect to not get bail again,” the special magistrate told the woman.

“Yep,” she replied.

The matter was adjourned to October.

If this story has raised any concerns for you, 1800RESPECT, the national 24-hour sexual assault, family and domestic violence counselling line, can be contacted on 1800 737 732. Help and support are also available through the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre on 02 6247 2525, the Domestic Violence Crisis Service ACT 02 6280 0900, the Sexual Violence Legal Services on 6257 4377 and Lifeline on 13 11 14. In an emergency, call Triple Zero.