"When I get out, you're dead."
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That's what Shannon John Cook, 19, allegedly told his girlfriend as they stood on the balcony of his Lyons unit on Saturday night, watching police arrive in response to reports of a "violent domestic".
It is alleged that Cook had become angry at his girlfriend while they pulled apart a spare bed.
A piece of the bed fell on Cook, court documents state, and he blamed the woman.
He allegedly called her "stupid" and a "useless c---". She told police that she defended herself, and tried to go outside for a smoke.
Court documents allege Cook grabbed her cigarettes and phone from her hand. Every time she tried to leave the flat, Cook allegedly grabbed her, repeatedly throwing her against a couch.
At one point, she alleged that she hit her head against a wall, falling to the floor. Cook allegedly used his forearm to press down on her throat.
He let her up, she said, but would not let her leave the apartment.
Cook is then accused of threatening to kill her, and using both hands to choke her neck.
She told police she could not breathe and that Cook put his hand over her mouth to stop her screaming.
The woman believed she was going to die, according to court documents.
When police arrived, she said she was standing on the balcony, and Cook said words to the effect of:
"If I get locked up, when I get out, you're dead."
When police knocked on the door, they saw the woman shaking and scared. Cook appeared behind her and allegedly said:
"Take me away, arrest me."
He was later interviewed, and allegedly admitted to choking and knocking her to the floor.
Cook told police that his partner went blue as he choked her, while her eyes went black and she began to dribble.
He said he was using a lot of force on the woman.
During the interview, Cook said he had told the woman that if she wanted to leave, she could jump out the window. The pair lived in a fourth floor unit.
He appeared in the ACT Magistrates Court on Monday before Magistrate Peter Morrison.
He was charged with making a threat to kill, unlawful confinement, assault, and strangulation.
The prosecution expressed fears for the safety of the complainant, particularly due to the alleged threat.
But Cook's lawyer argued he had another address to live at, and would not contact the woman.
Mr Morrison denied Cook bail, saying he could not be satisfied that bail conditions would manage the risk to the complainant.
The matter will reappear later this month.
