A Canberra man who was accidentally released by authorities after he allegedly bashed and choked his ex-partner has lost a fresh bid for bail after a court heard the woman was still "extremely concerned" for her safety.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Scott Alan Insull, 41, faced the ACT Magistrates Court faced with nine assault offences and two counts of property damage on Thursday.
Mr Insull handed himself into police and was extradited from NSW to face court after a blunder saw him walk free from custody earlier this month.
He has been accused of choking his former partner until she was unable to breathe and her vision blurred and knocking her to the ground in early September.
He allegedly stabbed the tyres of her car with scissors so she couldn't get away and later assaulted her again.
Mr Insull has not yet entered pleas to any of the charges.
The court heard he was taken into custody and granted bail at his first court appearance on September 2, the day after the alleged assault took place.
As part of his conditions, the court ordered he initially be taken back to the Alexander Maconochie Centre.
He was to be released once the Director of Public Prosecutions had properly assessed the suitability of a Sydney address for him to stay at.
However, for an unknown reason the accused was released from court before those inquiries were made.
Mr Insull's defence lawyer said Legal Aid was made aware that the property was unsuitable soon after and told Mr Insull he had been released from custody by mistake.
From the witness box, Mr Insull's former father-in-law said Tuggeranong police called him on the morning of September 2 to ask if he had heard from the accused.
When Mr Insull later called the man, whose house he was going to stay at, he told the accused there was a warrant for his arrest and he should go to police.
The court heard Mr Insull handed himself into Liverpool police station in south-west Sydney soon after and was returned to the ACT.
The witness told the court Mr Insull was "a very good person" and he did not know him to be a violent or aggressive man.
But Special Magistrate Maria Doogan said Mr Insull had a history of violent behaviour and breaching bail conditions.
She said the Mr Insull's alleged victim remained frightened and "extremely concerned" for her welfare, and had taken out a protection order against the accused.
Mr Insull's lawyer said while his client's accidental release might have caused "significant angst" for the woman, the man did not have any prior convictions for violent offences.
He said the accused could live with a family friend near Braidwood and report to police daily if was released.
Ms Doogan refused bail and said a new place to stay was not a significant enough change to his bail conditions to mitigate any safety concerns.
She said she had no faith he would comply with any conditions she might impose if was released.
The court appearance came after the ACT government ordered an urgent internal review of Mr Insull's release after being alerted to it by Fairfax Media.
The review found the error was the result of numerous departures from "usual court administrative procedures".
Mr Insull will face court again on October 6.
