Man jailed for choking and punching pregnant partner in stomach

NZ Herald 25 October 2019
Family First Comment: Mr Kilkelly told the court Middlemiss’ errant behaviour was the result of a raging drug addiction which had him taking opioids four times a week and cannabis daily.

A man who attacked his pregnant partner three times in her first trimester has been jailed for nearly three years.

In the Dunedin District Court yesterday, 30-year-old Zachary Bruce Middlemiss (a.k.a. Cox) simultaneously became the first person in the city to be sentenced on a charge of strangulation after legislation was passed at the end of last year.

On February 13, the defendant became angry when his partner returned home without food for him.

The victim threatened to pack her bags and leave the apartment, prompting Middlemiss to scream at her to get out without her possessions.

Defence counsel Brian Kilkelly said his client was truly remorseful for his actions.

“He regrets he won’t be there for birth of their first child,” he said.

Mr Kilkelly told the court Middlemiss’ errant behaviour was the result of a raging drug addiction which had him taking opioids four times a week and cannabis daily.

The defendant was motivated to address that and had already enrolled in the drug treatment unit in prison, he said.
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