A well-known Illawarra restaurateur has spent his first night behind bars after being refused court bail accused of trying to strangle his estranged wife and post an intimate image of her on social media.
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Daniel Dafkovski faced Wollongong Local Court on Friday where police successfully applied to keep the 30-year-old father of two locked up out of fear for the safety of the alleged victim.
Dafkovski comes from a prominent family in the Illawarra hospitality industry and has already established himself on the local food and beverage scene with ventures including My Pantry North Wollongong (now sold), and current projects Para at Thirroul and the family-owned Olympic Boulevard at Port Kembla.
However, his involvement in those businesses, as well as his day job as a talent acquisition specialist for Moran Aged Care, was put on indefinite hold on Friday after Magistrate Michael Stoddart refused to release Dafkovski on bail given the serious nature of the allegations against him.
Police fact sheets tendered to the court reveal Dafkovski and his estranged wife were at their Coniston home on the evening of December 5 when they got into a heated conversation and Dafkovski allegedly began calling the woman derogatory names.
The woman tried to send a text message to Dafkovski's mother about the argument but instead sent it to her husband accidentally, allegedly prompting Dafkovski to fly into a rage.
It is alleged he jumped onto the bed, straddled his wife, who was laying down, wrapped his hands around her throat and started trying to strangle her.
The woman later told police she couldn't breath for about 30 seconds, however was able to scream for help when Dafkovski allegedly moved his hands to change his grip.
A neighbour heard the commotion and banged on the bedroom wall, allegedly prompting Dafkovski to let go of his wife's neck.
He allegedly dragged her onto the landing and pushed her down a set of stairs inside the home. The alleged victim was taken in by the neighbour until her family came to collect her.
She reported the alleged incident to police on January 6 and Dafkovski was arrested and charged with choking and assault.
He was released on conditional bail, however it is alleged Dafkovski subsequently posted an image of the alleged victim in her underwear on his Facebook profile.
Her family made her aware of the post last week and she reported the incident to police, leading to Dafkovski's arrest on Thursday.
On Friday, defence lawyer Fiona Jowett said Dafkovski would agree to any conditions imposed by the court if he was released on bail, noting he intended to fight the allegations.
However, Magistrate Stoddart said the case against Dafkovski appeared strong and he needed to protect the alleged victim.
The matters will return to court on January 30.
