Man who allegedly attacked ex-wife with axe was trying to destroy her beauty, court hears
WARNING, DISTRESSING: A Melbourne court has heard a man accused of unleashing a horrific axe attack on his former wife was trying to destroy her beauty.
The woman suffered broken bones and terrible wounds in the two-minute attack, during which she was struck dozens of times at Fountain Gate Shopping Centre.
The Melbourne Magistrates Court heard on Tuesday that the 45-year-old Sri Lankan man, whose name has been suppressed, was in a jealous rage after bumping into his former wife and her new partner at the centre on Sunday.
On Monday, he allegedly confronted her at a beauty salon where she worked and pulled out an axe he had bought at Bunnings four days earlier.
He told police he bought it for gardening, but it was still in his car, unused.
The 24 blows fractured the woman's skull, leg, arm and elbow and left deep cuts in her chest, back and legs.
Police gave evidence that the attack was so fierce, part of the blade snapped off in the woman's leg.
At one stage it became lodged so firmly in her head her attacker had to force it out.
He allegedly held her by the hair as she tried to escape and pulled her arms away as she tried to protect her head, the court heard.
The court heard the man told police he did not intend to kill his victim, just to damage her face, as she was concerned about her beauty.
He's alleged to have continued to attack her as she lay helpless, writhing in pain on the ground.
After the attack, he's alleged to have told witnesses: "I am her husband, she is my wife, she has been sleeping with another man".
The victim underwent facial surgery overnight, but is likely to bear permanent scars.
The man, an accountant, applied for bail, saying he had a full time job and a mortgage to attend to.
But he was remanded in custody to face court again in early July.
