By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
A PAKENHAM man who threatened to drive himself and his family over an embankment during a frightening, erratic drive in the Dandenong Ranges has been ordered to undergo a mental health community treatment order.
Dandenong Magistrates’ Court was told the man had confronted his wife of 10 years with a kitchen knife on 22 April as she visited her sister-in-law to talk about her marriage problems.
The man threatened to stab her, verbally abused her, slapped her in the face and punched her before family members intervened.
The next morning, he grabbed her out of bed by her hair and placed a kitchen knife against her throat.
He warned other family members not to ring police or he would stab her.
As his wife sat on a couch, he punched her in the mouth, cutting and severely swelling her lip.
He played down the incident to police outside, diverting them from speaking to his wife.
He then drove his wife and three children into the Dandenongs, in the meantime punching, threatening and verbally abusing his wife.
The car veered over gutters and swerved near parked vehicles.
At one point the man told his family he would drive over the edge of a nearby embankment.
In Monbulk, he threatened to kill her as he held a jack-handle and chased her around their car.
The wife was assisted by passing motorists.
The man’s lawyer told the court on Tuesday that his client had been acting beforehand in a “bizarre manner” due to an undiagnosed, untreated bipolar disorder.
During his time in custody, he had taken his clothes off in the rain and washed himself in the toilet.
“He realises the impact he’s had on (his wife) and the children.
“That was quite devastating to him to see his children were quite affected by this.”
According to a psychiatrist’s report, the man’s chances of rehabilitation were excellent and his risk of reoffending was low.
Magistrate Jack Vandersteen said the Pakenham man had been punished enough – having served 70 days in remand and 21 days as an involuntary hospital patient.
“I’m not going to impose unpaid community work… now it’s time to concentrate on your treatment and rehabilitation.”
The man’s wife, who had been twice threatened at knife-point by the man, and his three children are separated from him and protected by an intervention order.
“I feel very much for your family for what you subject them to,” Mr Vandersteen said, noting the children would have been “absolutely terrified”.
