By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
A DANDENONG man has been refused bail after allegedly threatening to kill his estranged wife, an ex-friend as well as their Sri Lankan-based families.
The wife had fled home to a secret address and obtained an intervention order in March, claiming she’d been beaten at least four times a week by the accused, Dandenong Magistrates’ Court heard on 11 April.
Police informant First Constable Annette Johnston said the victim had been driven to attempt suicide after the man allegedly made phone threats against her and her family on 8 and 9 April.
On 8 April, the victim allegedly recorded the threats he made against her Sri Lankan-based family if she didn’t return to him.
She reported the incident at Dandenong police station that day and while there received a further call from him. She handed her phone to a police officer who told the man he would be arrested.
The man was arrested at home on 10 April after further threats led to the wife trying to hang herself.
At the bail hearing, the court granted a personal safety intervention order to a former male friend of the man.
The court heard that the accused’s wife had moved in with the ex-friend at a “confidential address”.
The ex-friend alleged he had since been called more than 500 times by the man, who demanded to know his wife’s location.
On Facebook, the accused sent the ex-friend several messages warning that “when I see you in Sri Lanka, I can shoot you” and that “I know how to kill you in Australia”.
The accused wrote that he had pictures of the ex-friend’s father that he could send to the Sri Lankan army.
He further stated he could escape punishment for killing the ex-friend in Australia by getting a “mental health certificate”.
First Const Johnston said the wife, who waited outside court, was fearful for her safety.
The man’s lawyer said the accused had not previously come to police attention since arriving in Australia with his wife in 2012. He was not likely to face jail time if found guilty, the lawyer said.
“He’s found himself in custody (now). He’s very much aware of the situation should he speak to his wife or his estranged friend.
“He wishes not to have contact with both affected members.”
The court heard the accused admitted to making the calls but blamed his sister’s children for sending texts inviting the wife to join the social network app Viber.
The man claimed he was not educated enough to write in Tamil – an assertion that was disputed by his wife, the court heard.
Magistrate Jack Vandersteen said given the man had gone to “extraordinary lengths” to find his wife and the allegedly ongoing family violence, the man had failed to “show cause” for bail.
“There can be no conditions that can be placed to reduce that risk (of re-offending) to an acceptable level.”
