Canberra man arrested on 19 family violence charges

A Canberra man has faced court on 19 family violence charges after a three week manhunt. The 31-year-old was finally arrested on Saturday night.

Transcript

00:00 The woman went to police earlier this month, alleging she'd been subjected to a two-month-long

00:08 string of attacks by the man.

00:10 The pair met in August, when the woman was homeless.

00:14 Police allege he exploited her situation, threatening to kill her several times.

00:20 He's now facing a total of 19 charges, including rape, assault, choking, and forcing the woman

00:26 to take the illicit drug GHB.

00:30 It's also alleged he filmed some of the abuse on a mobile phone.

00:35 But it took three weeks for police to track the man down.

00:39 In the end, he was found hiding in the roof cavity of the home of one of his ex-partner's

00:44 neighbours.

00:45 They'd called police after hearing suspicious noises in their roof and backyard.

00:52 Police say the man gave himself up without incident.

00:55 Today in court, the man had to be told to sit down by his lawyer when he reacted to

01:01 one of the charges.

01:03 He did not apply for bail and will be back in court next month.

01:06 [BLANK_AUDIO]