Albert Proud sentenced to five years over violent assault on girlfriend
Former AFL player Albert Proud has been sentenced to five and a half years for a violent assault which almost killed his then-girlfriend.
A court heard Proud "just snapped" the night he punched his then-girlfriend in the chest so hard she thought she was having a heart attack.
Proud, 27, appeared in the Brisbane District Court on Monday where he is being sentenced after pleading guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm inflicted on Richelle Kadadi, as well as a willful damage charge.
The former couple had dated for about two and a half months. Photo: Supplied.
Crown prosecutor Joshua Hanna said Proud became violent after the couple, who had been together for about two-and-a-half months, attended a wedding and then a party on November 8, 2015.
Proud had been affectionate earlier in the evening but his mood shifted after Ms Kadadi handed him his wet clothes as they left the party, where he'd been pushed into a pool, he said.
The court heard Proud threw the items onto the roof of the house and said "who f****ing cares" when she asked him why he'd done it.
When they got into the car he started striking the windscreen and gearstick before eventually attacking his then-partner in a Sunnybank home.
Albert Proud played for the Brisbane Lions. Photo: Getty.
Mr Hanna said she recalled being punched her so hard in the chest she thought she was having a heart attack because of the "excruciating pain".
Later, the bride and groom from the wedding drove past the house and saw the "terrified" woman run onto the road, her clothes stretched from someone pulling them, the court heard.
"She said she'd been bashed (and) thought she was going to die," Mr Hanna said.
The victim suffered from post-traumatic amnesia and spent 33 days in hospital recovering from the brutal attack, Mr Hanna said.
Given her memory loss, he said it was hard to determine the precise details of the assault but it appeared she had suffered at least two blows to her head after the strike to her chest, as well as been strangled and grabbed by her shoulders and arms.
Richelle Kadadi was hospitalised after the attack. Photo: Facebook.
In his submissions, defence barrister Greg McGuire said Proud himself couldn't explain why he'd lashed out so violently, telling the court: "Something just snapped in him".
"Albert Proud sober is different from Albert Proud drunk," Mr McGuire said, adding his relationship with alcohol had had "devastating consequences" for both Proud and his victim.
Proud played 29 games for the Lions before being sacked in 2011 following a litany of alcohol-fuelled incidents, he said.
National domestic violence helpline can be contacted on 1800 737 732 or 1800RESPECT. In an emergency call triple-zero.
News break – August 28
