Out of control argument led to violent domestic abuse inside Denmark home

An Albany man has been convicted of throttling his wife inside their home seven years ago after an argument spiralled out of control. Ashley Robert Plater, 49, appeared in Albany Magistrates Court last Thursday, pleading guilty to two counts of endangering the life, health or safety of a person. Plater grabbed his then-wife’s throat and forced her against a wall on two occasions inside their Denmark home on the night of January 19, 2014. Magistrate Dianne Scaddan said new laws introduced in October last year would class this type of offence as non-fatal strangulation. In court last Thursday, police prosecutor Sgt Dave Loverock said Plater was intoxicated when the pair got into an argument about 9pm. “They were in the bedroom when the accused grabbed the victim’s throat, held her against the wall and squeezed her throat,” Sgt Loverock said. Their daughter came into the room and yelled at her father to stop, he said. The victim and her daughter went into the bathroom but Plater followed them and assaulted the woman again. “He followed, grabbed her, and pushed her against the bathroom wall, where he held her throat and restricted her breathing,” Sgt Loverock said. The court was told the couple’s son then came into the bathroom and “shoulder- barged” Plater, knocking him away from the victim. Defence lawyer Albert Kunneke said Plater was “remorseful” and had since entered another marriage. Ms Scaddan said Plater’s behaviour on that night, although an “isolated incident”, would have been a frightening experience for the victim. “Sadly, the children had to intervene ... this would have been unpleasant and distressing for them,” she said. Plater was fined $4000.