A man who threw a bowl of spit at his partner threatened to murder her if she took their children to her parents' house for the night.
Robert Edmonds was spitting in a bowl throughout the evening while at home in Raetihi with his partner and their two young children on June 8.
At some point in the night he became angry with the victim and started swearing and her, approaching her with a clenched fist, Judge David Cameron said in the Whanganui District Court yesterday.
Edmonds picked up the spit bowl and threw it at the victim. "Fortunately the bowl missed her, however she was struck with its contents, namely his spit," Judge Cameron said. The victim decided to take the children to her parents' house, and the parents called police.
While the victim went to gather the children and some clothes, Edmonds sat in the living room continuing to swear at her. He told her she was not taking "his children", Judge Cameron said.
"He told her that if she took the children he would murder her."
Edmonds then insulted the victim's appearance and weight before saying he was going to "go and kill her parents for calling the police", and he would then kill her. Edmonds pleaded guilty to common assault and threatening to kill. He has a previous assault charge against the same victim.
Judge Cameron sentenced him to three months in prison, with six months post-release conditions.