A former professional mixed martial arts fighter repeatedly assaulted and emotionally abused his teenage girlfriend, a court has been told.
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Daniel James Hyatt, 29, is facing multiple charges of common assault, with his ex-partner alleging he was “violent”, “aggressive” and “psycho” throughout their relationship.
The former promoter for Tasmanian MMA organisation Valor Fight appeared in the Launceston Magistrates Court on Tuesday for a hearing into the allegations. The hearing began late last year but was held over until this week.
His accuser was 17 when the violence allegedly began and she cannot legally be identified.
She claimed he assaulted her on at least six separate occasions, kicking her, putting her in a chokehold and slapping her.
Describing one of the alleged assaults before Magistrate Sharon Cure, the now 19-year-old woman said she was “genuinely scared” she was going to die when he allegedly put a pillowcase over her face.
The pair was living at Hotel New York on the night of the alleged incident, where the woman said Mr Hyatt “tortured” her.
“He was slapping me from side to side… like I was a bloody ball,” she recalled.
“He was saying ‘you’re a snake, your mum’s a snake’.”
Mr Hyatt’s lawyer Grant Tucker said the alleged victim “made it all up” to ruin his life after they broke up.
The court heard the woman made two statements to police in 2016, withdrawing her allegations against Mr Hyatt.
She claims, however, that Mr Hyatt wrote the statements and told her to take them to the police and sign them.
“He said I wouldn’t get in trouble because I was 17,” she told the court on Tuesday.
Mr Tucker questioned the woman about her willingness to provide false information to police.
“You’re a person that’s been prepared to tell numerous lies,” Mr Tucker said.
“Yes I’ve been manipulated to do so,” the alleged victim replied.
“So you take no responsibility?” Mr Tucker continued.
She admitted to the court she was “pretty much willing to do anything because of how in love and manipulated” she was.
“I was 17 and he was like, what, 29?” she said.
“I was like a puppet on a string.”
The alleged victim’s mother took the stand and told Ms Cure her daughter had put Mr Hyatt on a pedestal.
She said her daughter was in hospital in Hobart after attempting to take her own life when she left in her gown, with her drip still in and returned to Launceston to be with Mr Hyatt.
“She was a very confused little girl who had this person on a pedestal,” the mother said.
The hearing was adjourned until Thursday morning, with at least three more witnesses expected to be called.
Mr Hyatt was remanded in custody.
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