Ex-MAFS star’s ‘cowardly’ assault on woman

WARNING: Confronting details

A former Married At First Sight star violently attacked a woman by slapping her, throwing a glass candle holder and kicking her in the stomach during a month-long pattern of “abusive and controlling behaviour”, a court has been told.

Craig Michael Keller’s “cowardly” behaviour towards the young woman only came to light when a family member, concerned about his actions, phoned police.

Keller – who became a household name on season 3 of the reality show in 2016 – was silent but occasionally dabbed at his eyes as he pleaded guilty on Wednesday to charges of common assault, wilful damage and two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm – one while armed.

Brisbane District Court was told Keller’s charges spanned over the course of a month back in 2022.

Crown prosecutor Daniel Sampey said Keller engaged in a pattern of “controlling and abusive behaviour” against the woman, which was marked by heated arguments and emotional abuse.

Mr Sampey said Keller’s first attack was on April 24, 2022 where he grabbed the woman by her ankles across a tiled floor, kicking her in the stomach before locking her out of the bedroom.

“The complainant sustained bruising to her ankle, buttocks, arm and hips,” he said.

On May 13, 2022, Keller again attacked the woman by slapping her in the head and smashing her mobile phone on the ground.

Just two days later, he and the woman got into an argument before he threw several candle holders at her.

One struck the woman in the toe, causing it to bleed.

In her victim impact statement, the woman said memories of the assaults would constantly invade her thoughts and disrupt her sleep.

“She’s isolated herself from her family and friends,” Mr Sampey said.

“Fortunately the injuries are relatively minor but it’s had an ongoing, adverse impact on her.

“The complainant says the offending has had a profound impact on her.”

The court was told Keller had not read the statement – his barrister Tom Polley saying he “paraphrased” it to Keller during a conference.

Keller was “upset” at his behaviour when he learned of the statement, Mr Polley said.

Mr Polley said Keller had previously worked as a marine technician with the Royal Australian Navy, working alongside Border Protection authorities and the SAS combating human trafficking.

He said his client suffered from severe post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of his service.

One incident involved pulling bodies out of the water after a vessel ran aground off the shores of Australia.

In another, a pregnant woman was assaulted on an Indonesian vessel and the miscarried foetus was thrown at Keller when he boarded.

The court was told Keller also suffered a back injury during a training exercise, leaving him with chronic pain.

Mr Polley said Keller had a “long term involvement” with his psychiatrist and treating GP and been involved in drug and alcohol counselling.

“He’s a young man who has done active service for his country,” Mr Polley said.

“He has the burden of the wounds for that and is trying to work his way through (it).”

District Court Judge Terry Gardiner said the attack was “cowardly” and calling his behaviour “inexcusable”.

Keller received a head sentence of 18 months’ jail but was immediately release on parole, with Judge Gardiner declaring some 139 days spent in pre-sentence custody as time already served.