Anthony Roy Palmer: Albany man who assaulted and threatened to kill his mother avoids immediate jail

An Albany man who assaulted his mother and threatened to kill her because she would not give him money for drugs has avoided an immediate jail sentence. Anthony Roy Palmer, 29, was sentenced for assaulting his mother at their shared home in Lockyer on June 21 after she refused to give him money she had allocated for rent to buy methamphetamine. He appeared in Albany Magistrates Court via video link from Albany Regional Prison on Thursday facing charges of aggravated unlawful assault, criminal damage, making threats and breach of bail conditions and police orders. The court was told Palmer began screaming and swearing at his 48-year-old mother before rushing towards her and shoving her violently into the wall. Police prosecutor Sgt Meagan Diver said the force of the shove dented the wall and hurt the victim’s shoulder. She slumped down to the floor after the blow. He then threw a remote control in her direction before swinging a pedestal fan at her, which connected with her arm that she put up to protect herself. Sgt Diver said Palmer then stormed down the hallway and punched against the doors and walls, damaging them. He continued yelling threats at her throughout the entire incident. Police were called to the address soon after to arrest Palmer. After being released on bail the next day, he attended a cafe his mother worked at to speak to her, breaching his bail conditions and a police order to stay away from her. He breached his bail again on July 4 when he attended the Lockyer address after his friend tried persuading him to buy drugs. Magistrate Erin O’Donnell said the victim was “genuinely afraid that you might kill her”. “During the incident that happened the day before, no doubt she was terrified but also the next day when you showed up at her work,” she said. “You need to understand that your mere presence was enough to deeply unsettle someone.” She sentenced him to one year of jail, suspended for a year, with supervision and program requirements.