Tristan Kevin Slater: Brookton man who allegedly assaulted and threatened to kill partner released on bail

A Brookton man who allegedly assaulted and threatened to kill his partner while driving her to hospital has been released on bail. Tristan Kevin Slater, 26, appeared in Narrogin Magistrates Court on July 8 via video link from Casuarina Prison charged with deprivation of liberty, assault causing bodily harm and made a threat to unlawfully do an act. Defence lawyer Lisa Riley told the court Mr Slater would be appealing for bail on exceptional circumstances because he cannot receive his prescribed medicinal cannabis for chronic pain while in custody. Prosecutor Sgt Natalie Parkyn told the court that about 1am on May 27, Mr Slater allegedly punched the complainant in the left eye and twice in the head, causing bruising and a lump, while driving her to Murray District Hospital in Pinjarra for mental health reasons. She said the accused allegedly grabbed the complainant’s arm, producing a bruise, when she tried to escape the moving vehicle travelling at 110km/h. After the vehicle had stopped and the complainant exited, Sgt Parkyn said Mr Slater allegedly grabbed a pole and told her “get in the car or I’ll kill you” and “get in the car or I’ll run you over”. The prosecution presented confronting video footage to the court which showed the complainant sobbing while laying on the floor of the car and asking Mr Slater to “stop”, while he continued to drive and yell. Mr Slater can be heard in the 10-minute video verbally abusing the complainant. Sgt Parkyn said that in a second phone video, which was not shown to the court, Mr Slater continues his “tirade of abuse and threats”, saying “I’ll shoot your head in” and “I’ll f...ing show you what death is”. Ms Riley told Magistrate Erin O’Donnell that the video did not capture the entire hour-long car ride and Mr Slater had allegedly stopped the car multiple times to let the complainant leave, and she did not. Ms Riley also noted that her client had allegedly experienced abuse from the complainant too as they were in a very “tumultuous relationship”. Ms O’Donnell said that the video “does not cover (Mr Slater) in glory” and “no doubt discloses reprehensible behaviour” but it was only a snippet of the entire journey. The magistrate was also concerned that the accused could not access medicinal cannabis for his pain. Ms O’Donnell granted Mr Slater bail with protective conditions that he cannot be within 50m of the complainant, contact or attempt to contact the complainant while placed on a curfew and comply with urine analysis tests. Mr Slater’s charges were listed for committal mention on September 30 in Narrogin Magistrates Court.