'A serious example' of violence: 33-year-old sentenced over several assaults

CONTENT WARNING: This story contains references to content some might find distressing.

A man will spend roughly two more weeks in prison after being sentenced for several incidents of abuse, with one act being described as “particularly disgraceful”.

Matti Bruce Eljas Kemppainen, 33, was sentenced by the ACT Magistrates Court on Wednesday (25 October) for four charges, including two assaults.

Special Magistrate Sean Richter described Kemppainen’s conduct as “a serious example” of violence.

In 2022, Kemppainen removed clothes from a chest-of-drawers unit before throwing the drawer.

This hit a woman on the forehead, leaving a mark.

Kemppainen was also sentenced over another incident that took place in 2022 when he again assaulted the victim.

“You stood over her and you began to strike or punch her in her face and body,” Special Magistrate Richter said.

“You then pushed her into an internal wall in the house – this caused a hole the size of a tennis ball in the gyprock and a hole the size of a basketball in the door.

“She or her friend took photographs of the injuries you inflicted on her in that assault.”

The woman sustained a black eye as a result.

“Assaulting the head is a serious example of an assault, as the head is a very vulnerable part of the body,” he said.

When ACT Policing spoke to the woman in 2023, she informed them of the assaults and property damage and disclosed a text message Kemppainen had sent her.

“Your about to find how psycho I really am game on [sic],” the message read in part.

Special Magistrate Richter said that this action was particularly severe.

“In light of your previous assaults on her, that message is a particularly evil and manipulative communication,” he said.

A victim impact statement read by an individual on the woman’s behalf was “compelling and tragic”, Special Magistrate Richter said.

He described Kemppainen as having a “significant issue with controlling and violent behaviour” and noted he was already subject to an intensive corrections order.

“You appear to have some insight into the effect of your actions on your victim,” he said.

“You … described your actions as idiotic.”

Kemppainen pled guilty to two charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, one of property damage and one of using a carriage service to menace.

“Your pleas in this case still provide the court and community with a benefit,” he said.

“Your pleas were entered without the matters being listed for hearing, and as such, I consider that a discount of 20 per cent on any sentence I give is appropriate.”

Kemppainen had been raised by a single parent, had left school at the end of year 10 and had completed a year 12 equivalent apprentice program.

Since 2016, he has been working as a crane operator and had an offer of work on his release.

Special Magistrate Richter sentenced Kemppainen to a total of 9 months and 18 days and will have his sentence suspended once he serves six months imprisonment, at which point he will be placed on a good behaviour bond for two years.

Kemppainen had already been held in custody for 5 months and 16 days before the sentencing.