Army Corporal Faces Court Martial for Alleged Strangulation

An Army corporal is currently undergoing a court martial after pleading not guilty to two charges of assaulting his former partner, who was also a member of the Defence Force. Both individuals involved have been granted name suppression. The court martial, taking place at Burnham Military Camp, will span three days.

During his opening address, prosecutor Lieutenant Ben Ruback outlined the allegations, stating that the corporal became aggressive towards the woman on two separate occasions while under the influence of alcohol. The first incident reportedly occurred after the couple attended a party outside the military camp. Ruback explained that the woman was the designated driver, and she assisted the corporal back to his barracks due to his intoxication.

The woman testified that once they returned, the corporal insisted on leaving to continue partying. Concerned for his safety, she attempted to block the door. According to her account, this led to a confrontation in which he allegedly strangled her as she tried to prevent him from exiting. “I was blocking the door and he got even more angry and he started strangling me towards the door,” she stated. The following morning, she observed marks on her neck, and when questioned by the corporal, she informed him of the incident. He reportedly expressed remorse but claimed he did not recall the events.

In her testimony, the woman indicated that she chose not to report the strangulation at the time, aiming to protect the corporal’s reputation and keep their problems private.

Defence lawyer Andrew McCormick acknowledged that his client admitted to behaving poorly during the incidents but asserted that he did not strangle the woman. He characterized the first incident as one where the woman was the aggressor. Regarding the second incident, the corporal accepted that he had pushed her against a post, but he denied placing his hands around her throat. “This isn’t the case of him saying – I didn’t do anything, she is completely lying,” McCormick argued. “This is a case of him saying – yes, there were two flash point confrontations. Yes, I had been drinking. Yes, I have behaved badly. Yes, I have let myself down. Yes, I have treated her badly.”

During cross-examination, McCormick suggested that the woman only made her complaints in 2024 because the Defence Force was reviewing her retention in the army. He implied that her motives were influenced by her dissatisfaction with being discharged while the corporal remained in service. The woman firmly rejected this assertion, maintaining that her allegations were based on genuine experiences.

As the court martial continues, both the prosecution and defense are expected to present further evidence and testimonies regarding the incidents that have led to these serious allegations.