A mother-of-two received a suspended jail sentence after a court heard she poured boiling water over her husband when he grabbed her by the neck and tried to stop her from leaving.
Anmatyerr woman Bernadine Dixon, 39, pleaded guilty to one charge of recklessly endangering serious harm in Alice Springs Supreme Court.
Dixon was charged over an incident with her long-term partner Morgan Abbott – who she shares two children with – that occurred on January 20, 2023.
The couple got into a heated argument during a two-hour drive from Alice Springs to Ti Tree the day before.
The court heard Abbott began ‘badgering’ his partner to drop a domestic violence complaint against him for physically abusing her.
Justice Judith Kelly said at Dixon’s sentencing hearing on May 16 that Abbott had punched her in the chest after she covered his mouth with her hand.
After the car stopped, Abbott grabbed his partner by the chest and punched her in the face with Dixon slapping him back and telling him not to hurt her.
The couple got back in the car but quickly began arguing again with Abbott throwing himself out of the vehicle, NT News reported.
Dixon continued the journey to Ti Tree with Abbott’s brother collecting him from the roadside and dropping him to the couple’s home.
The heated argument continued the following morning, with Abbott throwing a thong and then a cup of tea at Dixon.
When Abbott grabbed her neck and blocked her exit, Dixon emptied a billy of boiling water over his head causing the skin on his neck and shoulders to blister.
The burns were officially judged to be ‘confined and superficial’.
In his victim impact statement, Abbott accused Dixon of being violent towards him and blamed him for the breakdown of their family.
Justice Kelly noted that Dixon had no convictions for violence despite there being a domestic violence order in place 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 behaviour bond.
Justice Kelly said Dixon had acted in ‘excessive self-defence’ and sentenced her to nine months imprisonment, wholly suspended on condition the 39-year-old complies with a 12-month good behaviour bond.
She noted Dixon had a minimal criminal history, had complied with her bail conditions, had a stable upbringing and was looking for a job.