Invercargill, New Zealand – An Invercargill court heard that a man who brutally attacked his partner for a sustained 15-minute period has a history of violence in domestic relationships. Daniel Ross Murch, 30, was sentenced to over three years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple charges including injuring with intent to injure, threatening to kill, assault, and driving offenses.
The incident occurred on January 8, 2021, when Murch, in an intoxicated state, accused his partner of infidelity and forcibly took her car keys at a Dacre address. He then proceeded to physically assault her, throwing punches, lifting her by the neck, and continuing to punch, kick, and stomp on her in a prolonged attack. Additionally, Murch threatened to kill the victim with a hammer and used the weapon to damage her car.
The victim, left without her keys, was too terrified to leave the address and sought refuge in a neighbor’s house after the assailant took her vehicle and drove off in search of her. Subsequently, police located Murch in Invercargill with a high breath-alcohol level of 711mcg.
During the sentencing, Judge Duncan Harvey described the assault as “extremely violent” and expressed that it was a stroke of luck that the victim did not sustain serious injuries. The court was informed that Murch had a history of violence in domestic relationships, and despite being subject to a protection order related to another victim, he had not completed the mandatory Stopping Violence program. Additionally, Murch was assessed as being at medium risk of reoffending in a similar manner.
As a result, Judge Harvey sentenced Murch to three years and one month of imprisonment and issued a protection order in favor of the victim. This case highlights the devastating impact of domestic violence and the crucial need for appropriate interventions to prevent such heinous acts in the future.