A Warrnambool man accused of stabbing a woman to the face and attempting to drown her eight months ago has been released on bail.
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Patrick Gavin, 41, of Hopetoun Road, made a successful bail application in Warrnambool Magistrates Court after being held in custody on remand since June 18 last year.
He is charged with recklessly causing injury, breaching an intervention order, making a threat to kill, unlawful assault, assault with a weapon and bail offences.
He also entered a guilty plea to a burglary and theft of coins at the Warrnambool Seventh-day Adventist Church on February 8 last year.
Lawyer Timothy Sullivan said his client intended to contest the charges relating to the alleged stabbing, stating Mr Gavin acted in self defence.
The court heard Mr Gavin was at the victim's house on June 18 last year when he began verbally abusing the woman at 4.30pm.
He called her offensive names and threatened to kill her.
The victim allegedly threw a bottle of whiskey at the man's head, causing a minor laceration.
The man left the property and returned about 7pm when he continued to abuse the victim.
When the victim tried to call 000, Mr Gavin allegedly grabbed a steak knife and stabbed the woman to the left side of her nose, causing a laceration near her eye.
During the altercation, the victim allegedly tried to fight to accused off, causing him to cut his own hand and fingers.
The court heard then Mr Gavin grabbed a shower head connected to a flexi pipe, forced it into her mouth and turned on the water in an attempt to drown her.
Police attended the scene to find the victim saturated from head to toe and sitting in front of a heater with a towel to her nose.
The court heard there was blood found throughout the house.
Mr Gavin was arrested, charged and remanded in custody, where he has remained for the last 10 months.
Magistrate Jonathan Klestadt said the man had 24 pages of criminal history.
But, he said the man had also showed compelling reasons why he should be released from bail, including his case being delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic and issues relating to the strength of the prosecution case.
Mr Gavin was granted bail with strict conditions, including he report to police once a week, not leave the state of Victoria and not contact any witnesses to the alleged offending.
He will appear in court again on June 15.
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