A MAN threatened to kill his pregnant partner and her family during a series of "distressing" messages and voicemails, a court has heard.
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The 29-year-old man appeared in the Bendigo Magistrates' Court on Wednesday where he pleaded guilty to three charges including making threats to kill.
The court heard the man had been in a relationship with the woman since February this year and she was pregnant with his child.
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On July 3, the woman was out of the house with her child from a previous relationship when she accidentally missed several calls from the man.
When she finally spoke to him about an hour later, he was abusive towards her and made her fear for her safety.
She stayed the night at a different property and turned off her phone. The woman woke the next morning to several abusive messages and voicemails.
In the messages, the man called his pregnant partner a "f****** dog" and a "maggot", and said he hoped she "f****** died" and "terminated" their child.
The man also said he would kill her and her family.
The woman reported the incident to police later that day. She also alleged there had been other family violence incidents, although the man was not charged with further offences.
The man was arrested on July 5. He told police he was having a mental health episode when he "flipped his sh**" at his partner.
Defence lawyer Robert Timms told the court his client had been diagnosed with schizophrenia, although there were no medical documents to support that assertion.
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Mr Timms said the man had last year been voluntarily admitted to a Bendigo psychiatric ward for treatment.
The defence lawyer said the man should undergo a Forensicare assessment so the court could understand the man's mental health conditions before sentencing.
The man, who appeared via videolink from prison, cried while telling the magistrate he was a "coward" who had to pay for his actions "lawfully and morally".
The man said he was willing to do time in prison "like a man".
Magistrate Daniel Muling said it was important that the court had the full picture of the man's health.
Mr Muling said punishment for the "very serious" and "distressing" crimes was important, but the man also needed rehabilitation so he would not offend again.
The man was remanded in custody so he could undergo a Forensicare assessment. He is due to return to court in September for sentencing.
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