Twelve months behind bars for first Great Southern offender convicted under new non-fatal strangulation laws

Police have issued a stern warning to domestic violence perpetrators after the first Great Southern offender convicted under WA’s new non-fatal strangulation laws was jailed for more than a year. Thomas William Russell, 35, appeared in Albany Magistrate’s Court last Thursday for sentencing after he pleaded guilty last month to strangling his partner twice in a car on their way home from Perth. He was sentenced to 14 months in prison, backdated to December 16, when he was taken into custody. Non-fatal strangulation or suffocation became an offence in WA’s Criminal Code on October 1, with a maximum penalty of seven years jail if the offender and victim are in a family relationship. Outside court, Great Southern Police family violence co-ordinator Sgt Shannon McGeown said non-fatal strangulation was a high-risk precursor to homicide. “The court’s sentence reflects the seriousness of this offending behaviour and sends a strong message that this overpowering, frightening and dangerous behaviour will not be tolerated in the community,” he said. “Special thanks also should be given to the Albany Women’s Centre, which played a key role in providing counselling and support to the victim.” In court last month, police prosecutor Sgt Peter Yuswack told Magistrate Raelene Johnston Russell and his victim were in a car on Albany Highway near Williams about 7.30am on December 10, when an argument escalated. They were arguing about perceived jealousy involving the victim and her ex-partner, Sgt Yuswack said. Russell was also charged with breaching protective bail conditions when he tried to contact his partner of eight months after the offence. Defence counsel Wendy Stewart said Russell and the victim were using methamphetamine during the car trip home. “The drugs played a huge part in the argument,” she said. Ms Johnston described Russell’s behaviour as “controlling and manipulative”. “You caused immediate fear she was going to die on two occasions in quick succession,” the magistrate said. Speaking to the Advertiser, Albany Women’s Centre manager Jo Fictoor said the conviction showed the laws could deliver on the protection they promised. “These laws had been long-sought after by family violence advocates, and to see them so swiftly activated in the Great Southern shows the community commitment here to end gendered violence,” Ms Fictoor said.