Jarrod Douglas Antho Mourambine: Denied bail for allegedly assaulting sister with pot and knocking out tooth

A Geraldton man is alleged to have struck his sister on the jaw with a pot, knocking out her tooth, when she stepped in to stop an argument with their mother. Jarrod Douglas Antho Mourambine, 39, allegedly assaulted his sister at their mother’s Waggrakine home on March 5. He has previously pleaded not guilty to the charge. Police prosecutor Sergeant Ross Gray alleged Mr Mourambine was having an argument with his mother when his sister stepped in between the two. Mr Mourambine threatened to attack her with a pot he had grabbed, and then hit her in the face with it, Sgt Gray claimed, knocking loose a tooth. After being arrested, he engaged in disorderly behaviour in lock-up, to which he has pleaded guilty. Appearing from custody on Thursday, Mr Mourambine maintained his plea of not guilty to unlawful assault, and his lawyer Georgia Keysers asked Magistrate Angus Hockton to grant him bail as she said he would likely be facing a lengthy waiting period for a trial. Mr Hockton denied bail, noting Mr Mourambine intended to stay at his mother’s home, where the alleged offence happened. “This home environment does not appear to be good environment,” Mr Hockton said. The magistrate acknowledged the lengthy waiting time but said there was a chance Mr Mourambine would be imprisoned, and that the prosecution had a strong case. Mr Mouramnine’s criminal history, which includes breaches of bail and assaults, as well as the risk he would attempt to influence witnesses or commit other offences, were also factors in the magistrate’s decision. Mr Mourambine will next appear in court on June 19.