A MAN who bashed his partner to death with a pool cue inside her Sebastopol home last year will be sentenced today.
Scott James Drummond, 45, appeared in the Supreme Court at Ballarat yesterday for a further plea hearing before Justice Elizabeth Curtain.
Last month, Drummond pleaded guilty to one count of manslaughter in relation to the bashing of Sebastopol mother Simone Teusner on June 7, 2011.
Ms Teusner died in hospital two days after the attack from head trauma caused by the blunt instrument.
Yesterday, Crown Prosecutor Diana Piekusis told the court Drummond’s case was a serious example of manslaughter.
She said the circumstances were aggravated by him moving in with Ms Teusner to help care for her after she was involved in a car accident.
“He moved in with her, continued to drink and ultimately killed her,” Ms Piekusis told the court.
“It occurred in the presence of a 15-year-old girl . . . it was protracted
. . . it moved through the house.”
“When he drinks, he gets violent.”
The court also heard that three days before the bashing, Drummond assured Ms Teusner’s former husband that he “would never hurt Simone”.
Drummond’s defence counsel Tom Danos said his client was sorry for the offending.
He explained that during a subsequent police interview, Drummond was “taken aback” by what investigators were telling him had happened.
The court heard Drummond told police it was a “complete mystery” to him why he repeatedly struck Ms Teusner in the face with the pool cue.
“I’ve destroyed the only relationship I ever (expletive) wanted,” he told police.
Mr Danos said his client suffered from a serious drinking problem and was “at a loss” to explain his behaviour.
“He completely regrets his actions . . . he’s extremely sorry and seeks to indicate to the family (of Ms Teusner) his sympathy and deepest apologies.”
The court also heard from expert witness, psychologist Professor Warrick Brewer, who said Drummond was “highly intelligent” but tested below-normal for general verbal memory.
Professor Brewer said Drummond was impacted by emotional distress at a young age and manifests that with aggression.
Drummond sat in the dock with his head down throughout the proceedings.
He will re-appear today for sentencing.