A TERANG man accused of pulling over his former girlfriend, dragging her from a car and bashing her has vowed to fight the charges.
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David Alexander Van Kempen, 21, of Grey Street, appeared in Warrnambool Magistrates Court yesterday for a contest mention hearing.
He has been charged with reckless conduct endangering death, reckless conduct endangering serious injury, making threats to kill, intentionally causing injury, unlawful assault, driving in a dangerous manner, improper use of a vehicle and two counts each of breaching an intervention order, careless driving and making unnecessary noise.
Police alleged that on November 18 last year an intervention order was granted against Mr Van Kempen to protect his former partner.
Despite the order, Mr Van Kempen and the woman met at Tower Hill five days later. Police claim Mr Van Kempen was verbally abusive, he grabbed the woman’s shirt, twisted it and caused bruising.
He had also restrained her arm and grabbed her car keys which he refused to return for about 15 minutes before she snatched them back.
Between November 18 and December 11, Mr Van Kempen had either called or texted the woman 846 times.
At 12.30am on December 11, Mr Van Kempen had been driving along Raglan Parade when he swerved and blocked another vehicle.
Police allege he got out, dragged a woman passenger from the other car, told her to get in his car several times, pushed her to the ground and then punched her to the jaw.
Neighbours witnessed some of the incident and Mr Van Kempen took off in his car with his wheel spinning and losing traction. Mr Van Kempen followed the woman’s car and forced the driver to pull over. He allegedly approached the car with a raised fist but realised the driver was the previous victim’s sister. Mr Van Kempen is alleged to have told the sister “when I find your sister I will f... kill her”.
Defence counsel Michael Lumsden said there was dispute about some of the driving matters.
Magistrate Ron Saines said on the evidence before the court Mr Van Kempen was alleged to have committed a very serious example of breaching intervention orders.
The magistrate said if Mr Van Kempen did not consider pleading guilty to offences then he would lose his opportunity for leniency in sentencing.
Mr Lumsden said his client would plead guilty to breaching an intervention order by calling or sending the 800 plus text messages.
