An Australian man has been sentenced to prison after violently attacking his wife and brother upon discovering them in a compromising position in a car, while his mother sat in the front seat. David McCulloch, 41, admitted to the assault which took place in Tasmania in March.
The incident began when McCulloch became suspicious after his wife, Jacinta King, failed to answer her phone repeatedly. The Burnie Supreme Court heard during his sentencing that McCulloch tracked down his wife, leading to the shocking discovery.
McCulloch found his wife of six years, with whom he has four children, in the back of a car with his brother, Jamie McCulloch. The car was parked near his brother’s apartment building. Adding to the bizarre situation, McCulloch’s mother was in the driver’s seat, seemingly unfazed by the situation unfolding in the backseat.
Upon discovering the pair, McCulloch reacted violently, punching his brother and striking his wife in the head. The situation escalated when McCulloch retrieved a shovel from his car and began to assault the pair with it, threatening to “kill them all.” The court heard that McCulloch hit the pair with such force that the shovel broke in two. His mother attempted to intervene but was pushed into a nearby trash can.
Both McCulloch’s wife and brother were hospitalized with minor injuries following the attack. During McCulloch’s sentencing, the judge acknowledged the emotional turmoil he must have experienced, describing the situation as a “breach of trust” among family members. Justice Tamara Jago stated, “I accept it was an emotive response to the circumstances you discovered.”
In addition to the assault charges, McCulloch also pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis and a firearm with ammunition. He was sentenced to three years in prison.