Accused denies assault

A Geraldton father who allegedly took his frustration out on his partner with a punch as she was trying to put their one-year-old child to sleep will go to trial next month. Darren Troy Callow appeared in the Geraldton Magistrate’s Court on Monday, when he maintained his plea of not guilty. The 48-year-old is accused of punching the woman in the back of her head after she told him to stop bothering her on September 9. Police prosecutor Sgt Tanya Wentzel told the court he was “bothering her trying to find some cannabis to smoke” while she was putting their seven children to bed. “She told him to leave her alone,” she said. “He responded by punching her in the back left-hand side of her head.” The court was told the woman then pushed him away and he raised his fists and “feigned” another punch before leaving. Mr Callow was charged with aggravated common assault. The matter was set down for a half-day trial on February 15.