The former partner of a woman found dead at a Griffith property on Sunday has told a court he went to the scene after she called him threatening self-harm.
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Ashley Alchin, 35, appeared before Wagga Local Court on Wednesday afternoon charged with breaching an apprehended violence order.
Mr Alchin, who is yet to enter a plea, was arrested on Sunday for contravening an AVO in place to protect the woman.
Appearing via video-link from the Junee Correctional Centre, Mr Alchin told the magistrate he only broke the conditions of the AVO because he was concerned for the woman’s welfare.
“She’s rang me and told me she’s going to kill herself, so I went down there and told her not to be silly,” Mr Alchin said.
However, Mr Alchin said that when he arrived at the property she was already dead.
Mr Alchin’s Aboriginal Legal Service solicitor, Dominique Lardner, made an application to the magistrate to grant him bail.
“They are matters of domestic violence, however, tragically, the PINOP (person in need of protection) in the matter and the victim has now passed away,” Ms Lardner said.
“Therefore, it’s my submission that your honour would not have a bail concern of interfering with any witnesses or the victim.”
Ms Lardner said one of Mr Alchin’s reasons for wanting bail was so he could attend the woman’s upcoming funeral.
“The funeral of the victim in this matter – someone who was his partner, previously – is going to occur,” she said.
“He’d very much like to attend that funeral and he is more vulnerable than ever in custody at the moment when dealing with the grief of his partner having passed away.”
However, after sifting through a lengthy criminal history, magistrate Christopher Halburd denied Mr Alchin’s request for release.
"Save me some time - I’m up to page 16 of 39 – how many times has he gone to jail for drive while disqualified? I’ve got three so far and a suspended sentence,” Mr Halburd said.
The court heard the father-of-three has also served jail time for domestic violence offences, had been deemed unsuitable to drive by a court, and had struggled with drug addiction.
“Previously, he had an ongoing issue with both alcohol and drugs, something that, at the moment, he does not have an issue with, and that is what led to quite a lot of his offending,” Ms Lardner said.
When Mr Alchin was denied bail, he stood up, said “catch ya” to the magistrate, and left the room before his hearing had finished.
Mr Alchin is due to appear before Griffith Local Court next Wednesday, July 25.
- If you or someone you know is suffering a mental illness, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or beyondblue on 1300 22 4636.
