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Australind man classed serial family violence offender after poking his ex-partner’s eye with a phone

Headshot of Kasper Johansen
Kasper JohansenBunbury Herald
Josh Kahu.
Camera IconJosh Kahu. Credit: Facebook

An Australind man has been handed a 22-month jail term and declared a serial family violence offender after choking his ex-partner and poking her in the eye with a phone in front of their four-month-old child.

Josh Philip Himiona Kahu appeared via video-link in Bunbury Magistrates Court from Bunbury Regional Prison on Thursday and was found guilty on 17 different charges, including seven family violence restraining order breaches.

During a previous bail application — which was refused by the court in May — Police prosecutor Sergeant Jo Morrissey flagged applications for the 24-year-old to be considered a serial family violence offender.

Details including a series of incidents that took place between January and April involving Kahu’s ex-partner were revealed in court.

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One such occasion involved Kahu attacking his then-partner after she brought him home lunch on her lunch break, grabbing her by the front of her collar and only stopping because she said the neighbours could see.

Another incident involved Kahu taking his ex-partner’s phone as she attempted to call her mother. He then poked the corner of the phone into her eye, grabbed the victim around the throat and proceeded to yell threats at her while their four-month-old baby was in the room.

Further incidents involved Kahu sending a number of text messages to his ex-partner as she was picking up a parcel, threatening to “deck her” and forcing his ex-partner into a car while he threatened her with a knife.

When handing down Kahu’s sentence Magistrate Linda Keane deemed the application appropriate and said he was “greatly impaired with his ability to deal with things”.

“If these issues aren’t dealt with, aren’t sorted out, you are going to remain a serious risk to any partner who comes into your life,” she said.

“Imagine your (Kahu’s) daughter one day at 20 years of age receiving this treatment from a man she loves ... they (Kahu’s ex-partners) are going to carry this trauma with them for the rest of their lives.”

Having already spent four months in custody, Kahu was sentenced to a further 22 months imprisonment and is eligible for parole.

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