A mother-of-two was given a suspended jail sentence after a court heard she poured boiling water on her husband when he grabbed her by the throat and tried to stop her leaving.
Anmatyerr woman Bernadine Dixon, 39, pleaded guilty to one count of recklessly endangering serious harm at the Supreme Court in Alice Springs.
Dixon was accused of an incident with her long-term partner Morgan Abbott, with whom she shares two children, that occurred on January 20, 2023.
The pair had a heated argument during a two-hour drive from Alice Springs to Ti Tree the day before.
The court heard Abbott began “insulting” his partner to withdraw a domestic violence complaint against him for physically abusing her.
Judge Judith Kelly told Dixon’s sentencing hearing on May 16 that Abbott had punched her in the chest after she covered his mouth with her hand.
Anmatyerr woman Bernadine Dixon, 39, pleaded guilty to one count of recklessly endangering serious harm at the Supreme Court in Alice Springs.
After the car stopped, Abbott grabbed his partner by the chest and punched her in the face while Dixon slapped him back and told him not to hurt her.
The couple returned to the car, but quickly began arguing again and Abbott threw himself from the vehicle. New Testament News reported.
Dixon continued the journey to Ti Tree with Abbott’s brother picking him up at the roadside and dropping him off at the couple’s home.
The heated argument continued the next morning, with Abbott throwing a thong and then a cup of tea at Dixon.
When Abbott grabbed her by the neck and blocked her exit, Dixon emptied a container of boiling water over her head, causing blisters to form on the skin of her neck and shoulders.
The burns were officially considered “confined and superficial.”
Judge Judith Kelly told the court at Dixon’s sentencing hearing on May 16 that Abbott had punched her in the chest after she covered his mouth with her hand.
In his victim impact statement, Abbott accused Dixon of being violent towards him and blamed him for the breakdown of their family.
Judge Kelly noted that Dixon had no convictions for violence even though there was a domestic violence order protecting Abbott.
Abbott pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and contravening a domestic violence order on March 23, 2023.
He was fined $150 and sentenced to a 12-month good behavior bond.
Judge Kelly said Dixon had acted in “excessive self-defence” and sentenced her to nine months in prison, suspended entirely on condition the 39-year-old complied with a 12-month good behavior bond.
He noted that Dixon had a minimal criminal record, had complied with his bail conditions, had had a stable education and was looking for work.