Man fined for drunk attack on girlfriend

A man who punched his girlfriend in the face in a drunken rage has been fined $1200 at South Hedland Magistrates Court. In August last year Stuart Green, pictured, had been drinking heavily with his girlfriend of 15 years and an argument broke out. He punched her in the face, resulting in closure of her eye and she was immediately taken to hospital. Green said he could not explain how it happened and that he remembered putting his hand out and making contact with the victim’s face, but did not remember punching her. He said he accepted what he did was wrong and wanted to plead guilty at the earliest opportunity. Green also said he pleaded early to avoid the victim going to trial or having to give evidence. Magistrate Gavin MacLean noted the accused’s girlfriend was in attendance supporting her boyfriend, but he said there was no excuse for domestic violence. “Relationships are complicated but there are other ways to sort this out,” MacLean said. “It was not a sustained attack but the blow was obviously significant and caused a significant injury. “You have snapped and hopefully it was a one off.” Green was fined $800 for the charge of unlawful assault and fined $400 for possession of cannabis and a smoking vessel. He also pleaded guilty to breaching his bail conditions of not coming into contact with his partner.