By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
A MAN on a bridging visa was facing possible deportation despite charges of making threats to kill his wife being dropped due to a lack of evidence.
The Sri Lankan-born accused’s wife and nephew refused to be cross-examined on their statements to police over an alleged family violence incident in Endeavour Hills, Dandenong Magistrates’ Court heard on 26 October.
On that basis, the court found their evidence over the 23 July incident was inadmissible.
With the dropping of the most serious charges, the man agreed to plead guilty to one count of assault.
He had made full admissions to punching his wife in the arm, where she had received an injection.
The accused had denied claims that in a drunken rage, he tried to put a powerboard cable around her neck, and threatened to kill her as he held a butter knife towards her.
According to a police summary, the wife of 10 years allegedly told police she had been abused on a daily basis and believed the applicant was capable of killing her while drunk.
He had been found in a “highly intoxicated” state at the time.
On 27 October, the man was convicted of the admitted assault and with breaching intervention orders.
Defence lawyer Siva Kandasarmy told the court that the federal immigration department was involved in the matter.
Due to the charge, the man would be released from custody, and was set to be transferred to a detention centre.
A police prosecutor summed it up in court as follows: “Going from one jail to another jail.”
