Kristgen Anthony Bennett Short dragged by car outside pop-up family mini-golf event after alleged gun threat

A man has disputed allegations he threatened to pull out a firearm and aim it towards his former partner at a family friendly mini-golf event before clinging on to a moving vehicle with two children inside. Kristgen Anthony Bennett Short, 34, appeared in Kalgoorlie Magistrates Court on Thursday via video link from Eastern Goldfields Regional Prison facing one count of breaching a family violence restraining order and one count of making a threat to kill. Prosecutor Kim Sullivan said the man had a family violence restraining order against him from his former partner and mother of his two children, with the exemption the pair could see each other in circumstances involving their children. The court was told on June 28 the pair had taken their three and eight-year-old children to a mini-golf event at the Goldfields Oasis recreation centre where it was alleged Mr Bennett Short began to get aggressive with the victim — questioning her about being with someone else. When the victim refused to talk about the matter in front of the children, asking him to leave, Mr Bennett Short allegedly told the woman he would use his firearm on her, and proceeded to put his hand in his bag when he said, “Don’t make me do it”. Mr Sullivan said the victim had then made her way to the vehicle with the two children and had started driving while Mr Bennett Short held on to it from the outside. The man was allegedly dragged by the car, while both children were in the back seats, for a “couple of hundred” metres before the woman stopped driving. Mr Bennett Short then allegedly said to the woman, “You’re done now, I’m going to kill you” — which prompted the victim to start driving again while he was still holding on. However, defence lawyer Dylan Lyneham had said his client disputed making threats and was in reality the one who was dragged across the road against his own will. Mr Lyneham said Mr Bennett Short apparently suggested to the victim how he wanted to end their relationship, which had made the woman upset and close the window on his arm before beginning to drive. The lawyer said Mr Bennett Short claimed he now suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and had started taking anti-depressants since the incident occurred. He also had seen a counsellor while in custody to help with his PTSD. Mr Lyneham applied for a bail application, but the matter was adjourned until Friday. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)