A woman was punched, raped and had her life threatened by her partner over three separate days last year, a jury has heard.
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The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has pleaded not guilty to rape and three counts of assault.
On the first day of the Launceston Supreme Court trial it was alleged the accused punched his former partner in the head a number of times at her house in Northern Tasmania on January 27, 2018.
The following day he grabbed her by the throat and neck with one hand and told her he “should just kill her” and he had a “head problem” so he’d “only get five years” for doing it, the court heard.
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It was alleged the man was screaming at his partner, accusing her of having an affair.
When the alleged victim took the stand she told the court her partner of 15 years ripped off her pyjama pants and underwear and he put his finger in her vagina.
“He said he wanted to check if someone had been in there and called me a dirty s---,” she said.
“He was saying evil stuff to me.”
The court heard the woman sought refuge after the incidents, including at a neighbour’s house and at the house of a family member.
He was saying evil stuff to me.
- Alleged victim
Three days after the alleged rape, the court heard the accused grabbed his partner by the throat and neck, pushed her backwards and put his hand over her mouth.
The couple’s two children were home during some of the incidents, the jury heard.
In his opening address, Crown Prosecutor Peter Sherriff told the jury it was very important to watch the evidence as it was presented firsthand.
Defence lawyer Mark Doyle did not reply to the crown’s opening.
Mr Doyle will cross examine the alleged victim when the court reconvenes on Thursday morning.
The trial is before Justice Robert Pearce and is expected to conclude on Friday.
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