A Barrack Heights man has been granted strict bail after appearing in court on Sunday over allegations he threatened to kill his estranged wife following the recent breakdown of their marriage.
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Peter Robert Monaghan, 34, is accused of terrorising the woman with verbal abuse and threats on April 23 as she tried to go to their house to collect her clothing.
Police documents tendered to Wollongong court said the woman went to Monaghan’s mother’s house that morning asking if her former mother-in-law would accompany her to the family home so she could collect her things.
The alleged victim told the woman she was afraid of her ex-husband and didn’t want to be alone if he was there.
However before they could go, Monaghan turned up at his mother’s house and allegedly began to verbally abuse his ex-partner.
It is also alleged he twice ran his car into the woman’s vehicle, however it did not cause damage to either vehicle.
Monaghan left the scene a short time later and the two women went to the Barrack Heights home so the alleged victim could collect her belongings.
Monaghan arrived at the home while the pair was there and again began yelling at his ex.
The woman told police at one stage he pushed her in the back before telling her “I should slap you in the face, I’m going to stab you”.
He then walked out of the room but allegedly returned a few minutes later armed with a knife which he pointed in the woman’s direction.
Monaghan’s mother then stood between the pair to stop the situation escalating, however he allegedly continued to hurl abuse and threats at the woman, saying he hated her and wanted to stab her.
Frightened for her own safety, the woman grabbed her clothes and left the house, heading straight to Lake Illawarra Police Station to report the matter.
Monaghan was arrested in the early hours of Sunday morning.
In court, defence lawyer Elizabeth Parkes said Monaghan disputed the woman’s version of events and would fight the charges.
She said it would be unfair to refuse him bail given he had no history of violence on his criminal record and would be unlikely to serve jail time if he was ultimately convicted of the matter.
However, police prosecutor Sergeant Shannon Ryan opposed Monaghan’s release, saying the alleged victim was greatly fearful of her ex-husband.
“The victim has a very real fear and understandable concern for her safety,” Sgt Ryan said.
Registrar Cally D’Arcy granted strict conditional bail on account of Monaghan’s limited criminal record but banned him from having contact with his ex-wife.
The matter will return to court next month.
I should slap you in the face, I'm going to stab you....I hate you, you're a c--t, I wish you were dead.
- Peter Monaghan to his ex-wife, police claim in documents tendered to Wollongong court.
