Sentence for domestic violence

A 38-year-old man was sentenced on Tuesday to eight months in prison with probation for assaulting and strangling his partner.

Incident in Papeete

The incident occurred on February 12, 2025, in the Sainte-Amélie neighborhood in Papeete, where DTPN officers were called to intervene in a domestic violence incident.

Scene at the scene

On site, the police found a man and a woman with facial injuries. The couple, described by the police as "excited," were intoxicated.

Details of the assault

The investigation and interviews with the two individuals established that the man had struck the woman in the face and attempted to strangle her before stopping when he saw she was in pain. On that day, the accused had learned of his father's death in the morning.

Defendant's explanation

"It was an accumulation of several factors," the 30-something said at the trial on Tuesday, in the absence of the victim with whom relations had since calmed. He admitted to the violence, explaining however that he had not intended to strangle her but to "control" her because she was very excited and drunk.

Court's response

To this, the court president countered that it is "rare to calm people by strangling them." During her closing arguments, the public prosecutor mentioned "extremely worrying" facts. "There was a strangulation and in the middle of this, there was a child. When people say bad husband and good father, it annoys me," she stated before requesting eight months in prison with probation.

Court's decision

After deliberating, the court followed the prosecution's request and sentenced the accused to eight months in prison with probation.