The Illawarra Mercury reported on a man accused of threatening to cut his ex-partner’s throat after she reported him to police for allegedly stalking and harassing her in breach of an AVO.
This case has not yet been heard in court so this is not about his guilt or innocence, it is about how the charges against him are reported.
According to the article, the man is accused of following her, turning up at her house and following her to a hotel. She reported him to police and says she then received 32 phone calls from an unknown number. She answered one of the calls, and alleges that the accused yelled at her for calling police and said “I’m getting locked up for nine months so I’m going to make it worthwhile…I’m going to cut your throat”.
These allegations are not a “declaration of love”. Declaring love for someone is not a crime and no one can be charged for doing so. There were six charges including contravening an AVO and stalking, all of which are serious crimes, not romatic acts.
He has pled not guilty to all charges.
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