Sean Neil Sciberras: Northampton man found guilty of violent attack on partner at trial, acquitted of threats

A Northampton man has been found guilty of holding a glass shard to his partner’s neck during a violent assault, but was acquitted of charges alleging he held a Japanese meat cleaver to her throat the same day.

Sean Neil Sciberras, 51, will be sentenced for a string of violence towards his on-and-off partner at his Northampton property on January 27, 2024, after an argument over finances.

During a three-day trial in October, the Geraldton Magistrates Court was told Sciberras pushed a bathroom door into his partner’s face, pushed her on to the concrete floor, bearhugged her, put her in a chokehold and blocked her mouth with his hand.

Police prosecutor Sen. Const. Thomas Potts said after slamming a door, causing the glass panel to shatter, Sciberras held a piece of glass to the victim’s neck and said “If you call the police I’ll f... you up”.

The victim, Martine Kilday, sustained multiple injuries, including grazes to her body and a scratch on her neck, which she received hospital care for.

But Sciberras claimed her injuries were caused by accident after they both fell over while he was hugging her lovingly in the bathroom.

Defence lawyer Kate Fry claimed Sciberras was only trying to de-escalate the situation and argued he never made threats or assaulted Ms Kilday.

Sen. Const. Potts alleged Sciberras held a Japanese meat cleaver to the victim’s neck and threatened to kill her while holding a second meat cleaver in his other hand.

But it could not be proved beyond reasonable doubt, with magistrate Clare Cullen determining Ms Kilday had “faulted in her evidence” during cross-examination, despite a “strong suspicion” a knife was used.

The court was previously shown a large number of email messages sent by Ms Kilday between April and September last year, described by Ms Fry as “one-sided, emotionally abusive” and “blackmail”.

In one message, she was frustrated because she did not receive flowers on her birthday.

In another, she said she would go to the police and the media to shame Sciberras unless he sold the Northampton property and paid her out.

But Sen. Const. Potts told the court the messages were sent by “a woman who has been emotionally and physically traumatised”.

During closing submissions, Ms Fry relied upon credibility as a defence, claiming the persistent messaging from Ms Kilday was not consistent with someone who had been abused.

Ms Cullen said Sciberras’ inability to accurately recall details, as well as his “manner and demeanour” on the stand, led her to believe he had fabricated his evidence about the hug in the bathroom.

“There were some aspects with Mr Sciberras’ evidence that I struggled to accept,” she said.

“I do not find that his evidence was credible … I reject his evidence on this point.”

When handing down her findings on Monday, Sciberras became agitated, turning back to glance at his father sitting in the back of court, shaking his head and rocking back and forth in his chair.

Ms Cullen concluded the “verbally abusive” messages were sent by Ms Kilday at a time when she was suicidal, tormented and desperate.

She found Ms Kilday had been an honest and reliable witness and her evidence was compelling, detailed and came from a lived memory.

Sciberras was found guilty of aggravated unlawful assault, impeding another person’s breathing and one count of threats to kill, but was acquitted of a second count of threats to kill.

The matter was adjourned for sentencing on April 2. A presentence report and a psychological report were ordered.

Sciberras’ bail was extended.

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)Lifeline 13 11 14