Vic: Jail for man who gouged out partner's eye

AAP General News (Australia)
04-17-2008
Vic: Jail for man who gouged out partner's eye

MELBOURNE, April 17 AAP - A man who stunned his de facto wife with a cow prod and gouged
her eye out with his thumb has been jailed for six years by a Victorian court.

But Jason Weidlich, 30, will be eligible for release in two-and-a-half years after
he was set a minimum jail term of three-and-a-half years and taking into account the year
he has already spent in custody.

Victorian County Court Judge Rachelle Lewitan said Weidlich's attack on Michiell (Michiell)
Maker, then aged 27, was "serious and appalling".

"Your behaviour was outrageous," Judge Lewitan told Weidlich in sentencing him today.

Judge Lewitan said Weidlich had been drinking and smoking marijuana when he attacked
Ms Maker about 11.30pm in Malmsbury, central Victoria, in April last year.

She said Weidlich jabbed his de facto wife numerous times with the cow prod, forcing
her to fall to the ground as she tried to escape.

She stumbled from her home to the Malmsbury Hotel across the road where she screamed for help.

There, Weidlich sat on top of Ms Maker and used his thumb to prise her left eye completely
out of its socket.

As he did this Weidlich said: "I don't want you to breathe. I would rather go to jail
for it this time."

As he was attempting to gouge out his de facto's right eye, the pub lights came on
and Ms Maker was able to escape.

The court heard Ms Maker's left eye was re-attached but she suffers ongoing sight loss,
pain and trauma.

Weidlich pleaded guilty to one count each of intentionally causing injury, intentionally
causing serious injury and making a threat to kill.

Judge Lewitan said she accepted that Weidlich was suffering post traumatic stress and
depression and was receiving psychiatric help.

She said a reduced parole period was appropriate because it would help Weidlich's supervision
on release.

Outside court, Ms Maker's father, Chris Maker, said his daughter was not happy with the sentence.

"She just broke down and she's scared," he said as his eyes welled with tears.

"I just think for what he done, he should have got a lot longer.

"By the time he gets out, she'll still be having trouble."

Ms Maker was not in court for today's sentencing.

AAP ce/szp/gfr/jt/mn

KEYWORD: WEIDLICH

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