A man who attacked his female partner with two spears, a stick and a large rock has been sentenced to three years jail by the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory.
Joshua Buzzacott, 34, pleaded guilty to several charges, including aggravated assault, recklessly endangering serious harm, choking, and breaching a domestic violence order on three occasions.
The court heard Buzzacott punched his former partner in her face, causing bleeding and bruising, following a verbal argument on June 29, 2021, in Alice Springs.
Later that day, the woman, who has not been named for privacy reasons, was seen running along the Stuart Highway in a state of distress, with Buzzacott chasing after her wielding two spears.
The court heard he threw both weapons at the woman, narrowly missing her.
Another attack with a stick and rock
In a separate attack on September 13, Buzzacott repeatedly hit the woman with a large stick on her head and body, apparently motivated by jealousy of other men.
"You told her you would kill her," Justice Blokland said.
The court heard Buzzacott kicked his victim all over her body, and choked her when she managed to stand up during the prolonged assault.
The woman broke free and was taken to Alice Springs Hospital by a bystander.
The court heard she suffers ongoing pain across her body as a result of the assault.
According to a victim impact statement read to the court, the woman believed Buzzacott was going to kill her.
The statement said she wanted Buzzacott to be sentenced to jail so that she could be safe.
Justice Blokland described the assaults as serious, frightening and humiliating to the victim.
"In effect, you were treating your partner as a punching bag … you were exhibiting a form of entitlement over her."
Previous manslaughter conviction
The court heard Buzzacott was exposed to "significant alcohol abuse" and domestic violence by his father and other family members from a young age.
Justice Blokland said Buzzacott had acknowledged to his lawyer that he had problems with alcohol abuse and needed assistance overcoming that behaviour.
In 2010, Buzzacott was sentenced to eight years in prison for killing a man near Port Augusta in South Australia.
"Your various periods of imprisonment have not deterred you from offending again and clearly your rehabilitation prospects are poor," Justice Blokland said.
Justice Blokland said domestic violence offences were commonplace in the Northern Territory, and particularly in Central Australia.
Justice Blokland said she was not persuaded that Buzzacott felt remorse, and that he would require "careful supervision" when released back into the community.
Buzzacott is eligible to apply for parole in September 2023.
