Teen allegedly choked partner in parked car, threatened to burn house down

ACT Policing allege the man committed the offences over a three-month period after he met a woman on social media. Photo: Michelle Kroll.

CONTENT WARNING: this story refers to family violence allegations.

A teenager who allegedly threatened to kill several people, including his partner, will stay behind bars after being arrested on more than a dozen charges.

The 19-year-old, who Region has chosen not to name to avoid identifying the alleged victims, briefly faced the ACT Magistrates Court on Thursday (16 January).

An ACT Policing spokesperson said he met the woman through a social media platform last year.

During a three-month period between November 2024 and January 2025, he allegedly assaulted the woman while in a stationary car, attempted to choke and suffocate her and threatened to kill her by holding a pair of scissors to her throat.

He also allegedly threatened to burn down the woman’s house, police say.

The court heard the 19-year-old allegedly threatened to kill multiple people – including the woman and some of her family members – and is also accused of damaging a Mazda car that did not belong to him.

The woman reported the allegations to police on Wednesday (15 January), and officers arrested the 19-year-old at his Greenway home that evening.

In court, the man did not apply for bail and no pleas were entered.

His 15 charges include aggravated assault occasioning actual bodily harm, threatening to cause property damage, choking, suffocating and strangling another person and making demand with threat to kill or inflict grievous bodily harm.

The 19-year-old will next appear in the Magistrates Court in February.

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.