Discharge after mum-washes-undies row

The row over the man's mother washing his underwear escalated, but he'll face no conviction for threatening to kill. Photo / Thinkstock

A Hawkes Bay businessman has been discharged without conviction for threatening to kill his partner with a knife after an argument broke out over his mother washing his underwear.

On October 3, an argument was played out via text in which the accused sent the victim messages, including that he wished she was dead, he wished he could kill her, and that he had a knife in his hand.

The victim was upstairs where she locked herself in the bathroom and called police.

He then turned the power off to the bedroom, which he said was due to the loud noise from a television, but the unusual action had the effect of frightening her further.

In court yesterday he successfully received a discharge without conviction, dependent on payment of a $500 donation to Women's Refuge.

He also received name suppression.

Both were opposed by police prosecutors.

Judge Bridget Mackintosh said it had been a "relatively unpleasant scenario" which showed neither party at their best.

"It could be described as an overheated domestic dispute which ultimately had no physical consequences for any of the parties," Judge Mackintosh said.

A conviction may have had a negative effect on the accused's working life, and the two parties were working through their issues.

"It does seem to me, at the end of the day, weighing up the situation, that the consequences of a conviction for this particular charge would outweigh the seriousness of the offending," she said.

Name suppression was granted to protect the victim.