Man remanded after vicious attack on girlfriend

A 44-year-old man today admitted beating his girlfriend because he claimed she was trying to drive drunk.

David Albuoy pleaded guilty to assaulting Shona Cann on October 3 and damaging two cell phones.

The court heard Ms Cann was at friend, Robert Wilkinson’s, home that afternoon with a group of people.

At 4:30pm, Albuoy arrived and the group were drinking and listening to music.

A short time later, Mr Wilkinson asked Ms Cann to go to the store to get more alcoholic drinks.

Ms Cann got up to drive Mr Wilkinson’s car and the court heard Albuoy requested to go with her.

The court heard Ms Cann told him he couldn’t go and told him to go back inside.

Albuoy then pulled Cann out of the car and grabbed her by her right arm. He then slapped her across her face.

Prosecutor Cindy Clarke told the court Albuoy grabbed the car keys and threw them over an embankment.

Ms Cann got off the ground but Albuoy pushed her down again. Albuoy started hitting her on the back of her head until two men intervened.

The court heard the victim tried to call 911, but Albuoy broke her phone in half. She then used Mr Wilkinson’s phone, but he broke that one as well.

Albuoy then began to attack Ms Cann again, using a wet cloth to “whip” her. He then stuck his finger in her right eye.

She then picked up a vodka bottle and began to swing it at him, stopping Albuoy.

The court heard Ms Cann suffered many bruises and lacerations to her body as a result of the attack.

Albuoy was arrested shortly after.

He told the court Ms Cann has stabbed him during the incident and there was more blood from his body than hers during the attack.

He apologised for the incident and said: “I told her to get out of the car. She doesn’t have a license and she was drinking all night so I tried to take the keys from her.

“She did get out the car and I pushed her down, but I didn’t kick her down.”

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner remanded Albuoy into custody until November 21 when he will be sentenced. Pre-sentencing reports were ordered.