A central Victorian man allegedly punched and hit his wife with a metal rod in front of her young child, a court has heard.
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The details of the alleged offences were heard in the Bendigo Magistrates' Court on Tuesday when the man applied for bail.
The court heard the victim returned home late one evening in November and found the accused man drunk.
An argument ensued and the man allegedly began yelling at and abusing his wife, in the presence of her daughter.
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He then allegedly hit the woman on the back with a metal rod and pushed her against a door.
The court heard the man was accused of grabbing the woman's daughter by the arm and throwing her towards her bedroom.
When the woman went to her daughter and hugged her, the man allegedly began punching his wife in the back of the head, with one of his punches slipping and hitting the child.
The woman and child escaped to a neighbour's house, and the accused man - whose licence was suspended - allegedly drove away.
Police were called when he returned home later that night, but the man allegedly refused to cooperate and became agitated.
It was alleged he threatened to stab police if they did not leave and threw rocks at a police vehicle.
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When he was arrested, the court was told, he was abusive and resisted being put in the divisional van.
The court heard the victims sustained bruising from the incident.
The man admitted to having an argument with his wife and being uncooperative with police, but denied the physical assault and driving.
He had been living at the home in breach of an earlier interim family violence intervention order.
Prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Alan Walker said bail was opposed on the grounds the man posed an unacceptable risk of committing offences and endangering the safety and welfare of others.
Detective Senior Constable Benjamin Manning told the court that the victim was very concerned about the man being released on bail.
The man's mother gave evidence to the court that her son could live with her in Melbourne and she was prepared to help take him to any necessary appointments while he was on bail.
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She told the court that her son overreacted if he was accused of something he was innocent of, and if he was "pushed", he responded.
Magistrate Julie Grainger expressed concern that if the man were released to his mother's address, her attitudes would reinforce his alleged behaviour.
"It's this 'Look what you made me do' attitude," Ms Grainger said.
The woman told the court she thought her son was "just as much at fault" for what occurred, but went on to say he was responsible for what he did.
The man told the court he hated himself for what he had done, and he had "no words to explain how much guilt [he] had".
Ms Grainger said she was satisfied the man had shown compelling reasons to be granted bail and strict conditions could reduce the risk to an acceptable level.
The man must live at his mother's address, comply with the requirements of a court program, observe a nightly curfew, report to police daily, not enter the municipality in which the offending occurred, not drink or use drugs, abide by the intervention order, and not contact witnesses for the prosecution.
He will return to court next month.
If you or someone you know is experiencing family violence, help is available from the Orange Door on 1800 512 359 and the 24-hour Safe Steps service on 1800 015 188. Men who use family violence can contact the Men's Referral Service on 1300 766 491. In an emergency, call triple-0.
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