Interstate police hunt for man accused of 'serious family violence offences' ends with arrest in Victoria

A 24-year-old man has faced the ACT Magistrates Court charged with numerous counts of assault. Photo: Albert McKnight

CONTENT WARNING: This article refers to alleged family violence.

A two-month interstate hunt for a man police accused of “serious family violence offences” ended with his arrest in Victoria.

It is alleged on the night of 9 January 2025, the man repeatedly assaulted his partner at her home in Phillip, strangling her twice and striking her in the head multiple times.

Police learned about the allegations a short time later and the woman was taken to hospital for treatment, an ACT Policing spokesperson said.

While officers began searching for the man, whom Region has not named to protect the woman’s identity, he was unable to be found in the ACT, so a warrant was issued for his arrest.

At the time, police sought help from the public to find him, announcing he was “wanted by police for serious family violence offences”.

“It is believed [the man] is actively avoiding police,” police said when seeking the public’s assistance to find him.

On Tuesday (18 March), the police spokesperson said the man had been found at a home in Wodonga, Victoria, on Saturday (15 March) where he was arrested.

The 24-year-old was extradited to the ACT and faced the ACT Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

He was formally charged with four counts of assault, two counts of choking and one count of recklessly inflicting actual bodily harm against his partner.

The court heard he had been on an intensive corrections order, which is a type of community-based sentence, over unrelated offending, but that order had been cancelled by the Sentence Administration Board earlier that morning.

He did not apply for bail and Magistrate Robert Cook remanded him in custody until 15 April to enter pleas.

The man was seen whispering with another man sitting in the courtroom’s gallery during the proceedings, then told the latter, “Love you, bro”, before custodial officers led him away.

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.