INVERCARGILL, New Zealand – A man with a history of violence in domestic relationships has been sentenced to over three years in prison for a brutal 15-minute attack on his partner. The defendant, Daniel Ross Murch, 30, appeared in the Invercargill District Court and pleaded guilty to a range of charges, including injuring with intent to injure, threatening to kill, assault, and driving-related offenses.
The violent incident took place on January 8, 2021, when Murch, who was intoxicated, got into an argument with his partner at a Dacre address. Accusing her of infidelity, he then proceeded to assault her, throwing punches, lifting her by the neck, and repeatedly punching, kicking, and stomping on her in a prolonged attack. Murch escalated the violence by threatening to kill the victim with a hammer and causing damage to her car.
The victim, left without her keys, was too terrified to leave the address and had to seek help from a neighbor after two hours. Murch, in an attempt to locate her, took her vehicle and drove off. When located by the police in Invercargill, he was found to be driving with a breath-alcohol level of 711mcg.
Judge Duncan Harvey described the assault as “extremely violent” and emphasized that it was only by sheer luck that it did not result in serious injury. The court learned that Murch was already subject to a protection order in relation to another victim and had not completed a mandatory Stopping Violence program, assessing him as being at medium risk of reoffending in a similar manner.
Given Murch’s history of violence in domestic relationships, Judge Harvey sentenced him to three years and one month in prison and issued a protection order in favor of the victim. This case sheds light on the concerning issue of domestic violence and the need for better intervention and prevention measures to protect victims.