‘Terrifying experience’ for Shepparton family

He is charged with making a threat to kill, assault, using a prohibited weapon, recklessly engaging in conduct engaging serious injury, driving in a dangerous manner, and driving as a learner driver without a supervisor.

He has not entered any pleas to the charges.

Police officer Senior Constable Mallory Lisueur told the court the man got into an argument with his wife about her going to look at rental properties that day as the marriage was over.

He is recorded on a phone camera during the argument yelling “Dead people. Phone doesn’t help”.

Sen Constable Lisueur said the man then went to the bedroom and brought out a large double-edged knife, lunged at his wife in a threatening manner and yelled “I’m going to kill you”.

The court was told the couple’s four children, aged between 14 and 25, were present during the incident at the south Shepparton home, with one standing between her parents and two others restraining their father.

Sen Constable Lisueur said the woman and children fled onto the street, before the man got in his SUV and drove 30m towards the group, mounted the curb and faced his car towards them only metres away.

The group scattered in different directions before the man followed his wife in reverse as she fled back towards their house and hid behind a tree, Sen Constable Lisueur said.

As the man parked the vehicle, the woman and children fled to a neighbour’s house.

When police arrested the man, they found what they say was the knife used in the alleged incident in a clothing drawer.

The court was played phone video of the initial argument, as well as CCTV footage of the man driving towards his family, with screams able to be heard in the footage.

Sen Constable Lisueur told the court in a police interview that the man said “it was all a prank” and later changed it to “it was a set-up”.

The officer said that when questioned about the threatening words he used, the man told police he said “I’m going to kill you”.

“We’re cultural people. We say that,” he said.

Sen Constable Lisueur said there was a reported history of family violence, with police attending a dispute in 2007 where they heard the woman screaming when they arrived and saw bruises on her neck, but the man was not charged because the woman made a statement of no complaint.

Sen Constable Lisueur said police believed if bailed, the man would be an unacceptable risk of endangering the safety and welfare of his family.

She said the man’s wife and children were “absolutely terrified” that the court would bail him.

“They’re terrified to be anywhere in Shepparton if he’s released.”

The man’s solicitor Alanna Noone told the court that her client could live with his brother in Melbourne if bailed.

She also said this was the first time the man had been in custody, he had no prior criminal convictions, and accused people had a presumption of innocence until proven guilty.

Ms Noone also said she thought it was “unlikely” the man would be jailed if found guilty — something the magistrate disagreed with.

The defence solicitor also argued that stringent bail conditions could also be implemented to ameliorate any risk.

Magistrate Victoria Campbell refused bail, saying the offence was serious and the prosecution case was strong.

“It would have been a frightening and terrifying experience not only for your wife, but also your children to have viewed,” she said.