A repeat domestic abuse offender has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after he tried to murder his model girlfriend in a “brutal and heartbreaking” attack.
Daniel William Huish, 33, was sentenced in the Perth Supreme Court on Monday for the horrific and degrading attack on his then-partner in November 2021.
The court heard during an earlier trial that the nightmare attack began when Huish returned to his Burswood apartment from the gym and demanded the access code to his girlfriend’s phone.
The young woman, who spent the night in the downtown apartment, refused to tell Huish the code because he accused her of cheating on him.
Huish’s accusations culminated in a violent and prolonged attack, which only stopped when the woman pretended to be unconscious.
The court heard that Huish repeatedly threatened to kill the young woman, strangled her several times and slammed her hand between the door.
At one point, the woman was able to run out onto the balcony of her apartment, where she desperately called out to commuters waiting at a nearby train station to help her.
The passengers watched as she was dragged back inside by her hair, before Huish grabbed a large kitchen knife and slashed her chest.
Daniel William Huish (pictured) was sentenced to 15 years in prison after attempting to murder his former girlfriend
Huish only stopped attacking the woman when she pretended to be unconscious (stock image)
The woman grabbed the knife to protect herself, but suffered deep cuts to her hand.
Thinking she would die from Huish’s continued attack, the woman pretended to be unconscious, hoping he would stop.
Huish hit her, threw toilet water in her face and urinated on her in an attempt to wake her up.
Two police officers, called by passengers at the train station, arrived at the apartment. Huish tried to block their entrance before attacking them.
The earlier trial also discussed Huish’s violent past at the hands of one of his former partners and his previous convictions for domestic violence in Queensland and New South Wales.
Huish pleaded guilty to obstructing and assaulting police officers and to holding down and assaulting the victim, but denied trying to kill her.
A jury later found him guilty of the charge and of strangling her four times.
Judge Bruno Fiannaca ruled that Huish’s attack showed “male entitlement and control” over the victim.
“You acted with a sense of entitlement and possessiveness in a desire to punish her,” he said. ABC reported.
Judge Fiannaca called strangulation a very serious matter and called domestic violence a plague on society.
He sentenced Huish to 15 years in prison, of which he must serve 12 before he is eligible for parole.
The sentence was backdated to Huish’s arrest in November 2021, meaning he could be released as early as 2034.
Judge Fiannaca highlighted Huish’s use of strangulation as very serious and declared him a repeat offender of domestic violence (pictured, Perth Supreme Court)
Judge Fiannaca also imposed a lifelong restraining order on Huish, which means he will never have contact with the victim again, and declared him a repeat offender of domestic violence.
In an emotional victim impact statement last week, the woman described the “profound and devastating” impact Huish’s attack had on her life.
“That day my life was changed by a brutal attack on my life,” she said.
‘The attacker’s brutality has left my hand unable to function as it used to.
‘The memory of suffocation and strangulation haunts me deeply. The fear of losing my breath consumes me. The emotional scars are deep and penetrating, robbing me of my sleep.
“The emotional pain has destroyed my self-esteem.”
If you or someone you know needs support, please contact 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).