Gerard Conlan, 48, of Whites Road, Warrnambool, appeared in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court yesterday charged with intentionally causing injury, recklessly causing injury, aggravated assault of a woman, assault by kicking and unlawful assault. 

Those charges were adjourned until October 20 so a pathologist’s report into the woman’s cause of death can be completed.

Police allege there was an incident between Mr Conlan and his former girlfriend on July 31. The woman was granted an interim intervention order in Warrnambool court on August 1 before she died on August 27.

In criminal charges police alleged Mr Conlan grabbed the woman around the throat and punched her to the cheek, jaw and stomach on the evening of July 1.

He also allegedly tore out clumps of her hair, kicked her several times to the ribs and once to the face and then punched her to the face between six and 10 times.

It is understood the Victoria Police homicide squad is overseeing the running of the Warrnambool case. Other charges could be laid depending on the outcome of the pathologist’s report.