A 26-year-old woman wept in the dock of the Supreme Court in Launceston as she described her relationship with a 40-year-old man which she says was marked by assault and controlling behaviour.
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The woman told the 10 woman, two man jury at the man's trial that he had penetrated her vagina with a baseball bat and repeatedly hit her around the legs during a four month period in 2019.
She said he had hit her on the head with a hammer and thrown food at her among a series of 10 sexual and physical assaults.
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The man pleaded not guilty to a count of persistent family violence between August and November 2019 at Mowbray.
Under the relatively new charge in the Criminal Code the jury must be satisfied of at least three of the alleged family violence offences to find the man guilty of the charge.
Crown prosecutor Emily Judd said the couple had started their five to six month relationship in May 2019.
The relationship had been harmonious until Mr Jones was absent for six weeks in July and August.
When he returned his behaviour had been marked by violence, jealousy and control.
In his reply defence counsel Evan Hughes told the jury said his client had been accused of serious and ugly allegations of violence.
"He outright denies the demeaning conduct and will present his evidence so I urge you to give him the opportunity to be heard and don't close your minds," he said.
Ms Judd said relationship degenerated because of trust issues and his paranoia that she was cheating.
On one occasion he hit her with a powerboard when his male friend was visiting, the court heard.
"Did he say anything?," Ms Judd asked.
"I was meant to have looked at him [the friend] out the corner of my eye," she said.
Ms Judd asked: "Did you see anyone else?"
"No," the woman said.
She said the man had hit her on the legs and in the vaginal area with the baseball but while holding one leg in one hand and the bat in the other.
She requested a quick break when Ms Judd asked her if she remembered anything else.
"The bat actually went into my vagina," she said.
Under questioning she said it was the striking end and it had not gone in very far.
She received no injury. The trial continues.
Nick Clark
I am the Supreme and Magistrates Court reporter for The Examiner. My journalism career has clicked over 34 years and encompasses four different spells at Tasmanian newspapers.
I am the Supreme and Magistrates Court reporter for The Examiner. My journalism career has clicked over 34 years and encompasses four different spells at Tasmanian newspapers.
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