Husband chokes wife unconscious, repeatedly flushes her head in toilet

CONTENT WARNING: This article refers to family violence.

A husband’s disturbing attack on his wife, including choking her unconscious and repeatedly flushing her head in a toilet while their children were nearby, has seen him handed years in jail.

The 37-year-old man, who isn’t named to protect the wife’s identity, was sentenced to a total of five years and three months’ jail by the ACT Supreme Court on Friday (4 October).

The woman had gone out to a social function in September 2023, leaving him at home with their two toddlers and his 10-year-old daughter from a previous relationship, the agreed facts say.

He saw a man had messaged her, as it appeared on her iPad that she’d left at home and thought this meant she was cheating on him.

The woman returned home and he accused her of being unfaithful before grabbing her throat, pushing her against a door and choking her into unconsciousness.

“I hope you had fun and I hope it was worth it,” he told her when she woke up on the floor.

He soon grabbed her by the throat again and pushed her against a wall before telling her, “If it wasn’t for the kids, I would kill you and slice your throat”.

The woman escaped and went to vomit in the toilet in the bathroom. But the husband followed her, pushed her head into the toilet bowl and flushed her head in the toilet twice.

He punched her in the arms and head in the bathroom before she fled to their sleeping children’s room.

The husband’s 10-year-old daughter then told him she had heard what happened. She had texted her family members during the attacks, saying her father was hurting his wife and she was afraid.

Police later arrived and took the husband into custody.

Acting Justice John Burns said the wife had written a statement for the court in which she said the attacks had affected every aspect of her life and impacted their children.

She has experienced fear, anxiety and a profound sense of betrayal and loss.

She also said she now has a strong relationship with her former husband’s young daughter.

Acting Justice Burns said the husband claimed he now felt “disgusted” by his actions. He was drunk at the time of the attacks and said he had been drinking eight to 12 beers each weeknight before the incident.

He wanted to move to the NSW South Coast once he is released from custody, where he has family and prospects of employment.

He hasn’t had contact with his former wife or children since going into custody and knew the marriage was over, but he wanted to speak to his kids again.

The husband pleaded guilty to and was convicted on three choking-related charges as well as single charges of assault and contravening a family violence order.

He has been in custody since his arrest in September 2023.

He was handed a non-parole period of two years and nine months in jail. As this was backdated to take into account time served, he will become eligible to be released in June 2026.

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.