Man threatened to kill woman, city Magistrates Court is told

Michael Ramsey (37) of Swilly Gardens, denies the offence and told police during interview: “God forgive her for making that up.”

The court was told that on Thursday, July 14, police were called to an address in the city at around 5.20am following a report from one of the residents that they had been assaulted.

A woman had been sleeping in one room and the alleged victim was in the master bedroom asleep with a friend.

The court heard that Ramsey allegedly came into the bedroom, shouted at them, pulled the duvet off them and slapped the forearm of one of the women.

He was reported to have said he was going to kill them if they didn’t get out of the house. He then allegedly cupped his hand around one of the women’s breasts and squeezed it.

A police constable said that during interview the man only replied “no comment”.

However, when asked if he had any sexual attraction to the woman he replied: “God forgive her for making that up.”

On Friday morning last in court the two charges of unlawful assault against two females were read to the defendant, alongside the charge of making a threat to kill.

Objecting to bail police said there were concerns about the level of domestic incidents at the address where the offences allegedly occurred.

He said he had looked at police records which registered eight incidents in this year alone.

“He (the defendant) is known as a heavy drinker, and an aggressive one at that,” he said.

“There are concerns that if he was bailed he could return to the address.

“During interview he told police that these ‘charges will be withdrawn’.”

Ramsey’s solicitor told the court that his client will be contesting the charges.

“His record is not good, but there is nothing in it of a sexual nature,” he said.

He asked the court to bail his client to an address outside the immediate vicinity of the address of the alleged incident and put restrictions on his alcohol consumption.

District Judge Bonita Boyd said that she believed that in this case there was a substantial risk of the defendant re-offending.

“I am refusing bail on these grounds,” she said.

“However he does have a right to apply to a higher court.”

The defendant was remanded in custody until August 11 when he is due back in the Magistrates’ Court to appear via videolink.