'Bizarre and relatively brief': man sentenced over threatening sister with kitchen knife

CONTENT WARNING: This story refers to family violence.

A man who threatened his sister with a knife while she was trying to get ready for work has been sentenced.

The man, whom Region has chosen not to name to avoid identifying his victim, faced the ACT Magistrates Court on Tuesday (3 December).

Magistrate Glenn Theakston said the offending was “bizarre and relatively brief” and siblings should not represent a “threat to each other”.

The incident occurred when the victim was trying to get ready for work.

“The defendant responds by grabbing a kitchen knife. Then there’s an exchange of words – and some words of threatening engagement by the defendant,” he said.

He would ultimately put the knife down and leave the home, before being arrested by police.

In court, his lawyer said her client has had limited contact with his family since the offending and was living in Justice Housing.

The court heard the man also attended mosque regularly, worked full-time and was involved in several charitable causes. He was also expected to start a university degree next year.

The prosecutor described the incident as a “strong beach of trust” between the siblings and that while the victim came to no physical harm, this would have been a “confronting experience”.

She said the man had shown “somewhat limited insight” into his behaviour in a report prepared for the court.

“As the offender has previous convictions for family violence, the prosecution submits that specific deterrence is highly relevant here,” she said.

On a charge of possessing an offensive weapon and disabling substances with intent, Magistrate Theakston sentenced the man to two months imprisonment.

This was backdated to occur during his time in custody, which the court heard lasted for several months.

“You’ve served more time on remand, subsequent to that [the sentenced period],” he said.

While the prosecution had submitted that conditional liberty was needed to deter the man from further offending, Magistrate Theakston said deterrence had “been meted out already” by time in custody.

He also encouraged the man to continue with his community work, which he described as “outstanding”.

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 Domestic Violence Crisis Service ACT on 6280 0900, the Sexual Violence Legal Services on 6257 4377 and Lifeline on 13 11 14. In an emergency, call triple zero.