Mark Dennis Richard Hill: Mt Barker man guilty of assaulting ex-partner in front of 12-month-old child

A Mt Barker man has pleaded guilty to assaulting his ex-partner after he gouged her face with his nails in front of their 12-month-old child. Mark Dennis Richard Hill, 24, appeared in Albany Magistrates Court on Thursday July 4 charged with aggravated common assault, downgraded from a charge of unlawful assault and thereby doing bodily harm with circumstances of aggravation. Police prosecutor Sgt Warrick Walker told the court on February 19, Hill was in a car driving from Mt Barker to Albany with his brother, sister, his former partner, and their 12-month-old child, when he verbally assaulted his ex for 30 minutes, calling her “slut”, “c...”, and “maggot”. Hill threatened the victim again later that day at the Mt Melville Lookout Tower, Sgt Walker said, telling her he would “drive you out into the bush and flog you”. In front of their 12-month-old child, he then grabbed the victim by the face and slashed his nails across her cheek, leaving deep gouges that needed medical treatment. Aboriginal Legal Service lawyer Raymond Muir said Hill was going through “significant” mental health issues, including depression and stress, and his behaviour was “out of character”. Magistrate Erin O’Donnell said she considered any matter of family violence serious and Hill appeared to struggle with regulating his emotions. “I saw photos of her face and there was some effort in what you did,” she said. “This was an offence committed against the mother of your child, the last person who should be on the end of that kind of violence.” Hill was sentenced to a 10-month community-based order, with supervision and program requirements. If you or someone you know is experiencing family violence, phone 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) or the Crisis Care Helpline on 1800 199 008.