Australind man Josh Philip Himiona Kahu refused bail while awaiting sentencing for family violence offences

A 24-year-old Australind man awaiting sentencing for a number of family violence offences, including choking his then-partner on two occasions when she refused to hand over her phone, has been told he would likely receive a jail term and was refused bail. Josh Philip Himiona Kahu appeared in Bunbury Magistrate’s Court via videolink from Bunbury Regional Prison on Friday where a bail application was made on his behalf. Kahu previously pleaded guilty to a number of charges including two counts of aggravated common assault, being armed to cause fear, making a threat to unlawfully do an act and impeding another person’s breathing. The court was told of several incidents that took place between January and April involving his then-partner. In one incident, the woman was dropping food off at Kahu’s Australind home when Kahu forcefully grabbed her by the shirt as she tried to leave, causing scratches to her chest. In another incident, Kahu sent a number of text messages to the victim as she was picking up a parcel, threatening to “deck her”, as well as another incident in which Kahu forced the victim into his car and threatened her with a knife. The court was also told of an incident in April when Kahu asked the victim to hand her mobile phone to him, which she refused, prompting him to approach her and hold one hand over her mouth for 15 seconds while prying the phone out of her hands. After grabbing the phone and moving to another room of his home, the victim followed him, only to have Kahu grab her by the neck and choke her for 20 seconds until she was thrown onto a bed. In submissions, the court was told Kahu had been held in custody since early April and wanted to stay with family until his eventual sentencing. However, it was also submitted Kahu had previous convictions of a similar nature that concerned a previous relationship and the current charges placed him in breach of a community-based order. Police prosecutor Sergeant Jo Morrissey submitted Kahu’s offending exhibited “extremely controlling behaviour” and flagged applications would be made to have Kahu declared a serial family violence offender and be bound by a restraining order protecting the victim. Magistrate Joanne Andretich noted the offences were “extremely serious” and it was likely Kahu would receive a jail term before refusing bail. Kahu is due to be sentenced on June 9.