John William McCoy: Albany man convicted of ‘cowardly’ and ‘extremely risky’ act of domestic violence

An Albany man dragged his partner through their house then kicked her in the face while she was on the ground in an attack described by a magistrate as “cowardly” and “extremely risky”. John William McCoy, 49, faced Albany Magistrates Court on May 5, pleading guilty to one count of aggravated assault causing bodily harm. McCoy and his partner of 2.5 years had been drinking bourbon on the patio of their McKail property on the night of Friday, April 1 when the assault occurred. Police Prosecutor Sergeant Dave Loverock told the court the couple had drunk a considerable amount but had not been arguing until the woman said she was going to bed about 11.15pm. McCoy, 49, then dragged her out of her chair and into the house, ripping her shirt, punching her and knocking her to the ground. While she was on the ground, the solidly built man kicked her in the head, leaving her bleeding heavily from the mouth. His foot was also bleeding from where it had struck her teeth. He then dragged his partner into a bedroom and returned to the patio. McCoy was arrested and spent the night in police lock-up, appearing in Perth Magistrates Court via video link the next morning when he was released on bail. In Albany Magistrates Court on May 5, McCoy’s defence lawyer said his client did not have any “specific recollection” of the assault but he did not dispute the allegations. He said his client’s alcohol consumption had become more regular in the wake of two major life events, including the death of a loved one. McCoy was “ashamed” of his actions and had self-referred to Anglicare WA’s Changing Tracks program, his lawyer told the court. Magistrate Dianne Scaddan said kicking his partner to the head while she was on the ground showed “a level of callousness and violence . . . that cannot be tolerated”. She said the assault seemed to have been sparked by an innocuous comment. Alcohol consumption was not a mitigating factor. “It was good luck more than anything else that means they weren’t more seriously injured,” she said. While acknowledging his early guilty plea and the steps he had taken towards rehabilitation, Ms Scaddan said a term of imprisonment was appropriate. McCoy was sentenced to nine months in prison, with the sentence conditionally suspended for 12 months.