Three domestic violence applications withdrawn at Midlands court

Three applications for domestic violence orders were withdrawn at a Midlands District Family Court yesterday after the court was told the couples involved had come to agreements.

The three were among more than a dozen domestic violence applications facing the judge, who had a total family court list of more than 70 cases. In one case, a woman had been granted a temporary protection order against her husband in July, on an ex parte basis, when only she was present in court. She had alleged he had been seriously violent towards her and that she was afraid of him.

She told the court yesterday – when both parties were present for a full hearing of a barring order application – that she wanted to “cancel everything”.

Safety order

“I do not live with my husband any more,” she said. She said she and her husband had reached agreement and she wanted him to be able to see their child.

She told the judge he had got medical help. “He did change and he will change,” she said.

The judge noted there had been serious allegations of violence. “You are satisfied you are safe?” she asked. The woman said she was.

The judge discharged the protection order and closed the case. In another short hearing, the judge asked a woman, who also had a protection order against her partner, if she was withdrawing her application for a barring order of her own free will. The woman said she was, that they had come to an agreement and “it’s working out fine”.

“And you know the protection order will be discharged?” the judge asked.

“I understand that,” the woman responded.

Separately, a man agreed to a safety order being made against him for a year. The order meant he could remain in the family home, but if he used or threatened to use violence, he could be arrested and imprisoned. The couple, who had two children, sat close together in the court. When the woman took the stand, the judge asked her to outline why she had sought a temporary protection order against her husband in late July.

The woman said they’d had a row and he had hit her, although she did not go into detail. She said “social workers got involved” and she left the family home. But she had since returned and “everything is working perfectly”.

The man said he understood if he breached the safety order, he could go to prison. He said he had been to hospital and was receiving medical help.

The judge said she understood. “If things get on top of you, go for help,” she said.

In another case, she granted a temporary protection order for a woman who said she was afraid of her former partner, due to be released from prison shortly.

The woman said she had been living with the man for two years prior to his incarceration, and he had been violent towards her in the past. She said she broke off the relationship two weeks ago.

Paranoid

“He wanted to know where I’m going, what I’m doing; he’s paranoid,” she said.

“He says when he gets out he will beat me and kill me . . . I’m living in fear of him.”

Granting the order, the judge noted the woman had applied for a protection order last year, but had not attended court for the follow-up, full hearing of the case.

“He didn’t allow me come back,” the woman said.

The judge advised the woman to seek help from domestic violence support services.