A man has been charged with three counts of assault after allegedly grabbing his 10-year-old son by the throat as the boy tried to protect his mother.
The 36-year-old Kambah man was remanded in custody after appearing in the ACT Magistrates Court on Saturday morning.
He was charged with three counts of assault, two against his former partner and one against his son.
The man pleaded not guilty to the charges. He told the court he and the woman have three children together, and in 14 years he had never assaulted them.
The assaults allegedly occurred in the Tuggeranong Hyperdome food court about 5pm on Friday, March 17.
It is alleged the man and his ex partner met so the man could pick up his son to stay the night.
The man allegedly starting throwing pieces of food at his ex-partner. The boy then threw a piece of food back at his father. The court heard this was to protect his mother.
The court heard the man then grabbed the boy by the throat and pushed him away. His ex-partner attempted to intervene and it is alleged the man then grabbed her by the throat, pushing her backwards. This caused her to stumble and fall to the ground.
The boy then allegedly punched his father twice in the back before two security guards intervened.
The court heard there were multiple witness reports, and the incident was captured on CCTV. At the time, the man was on bail for unrelated, non-violent crimes.
It was noted in court he had about eight prior convictions for failing to appear.
Magistrate Robert Cook refused bail and the man was remanded in custody until March.
In refusing bail Magistrate Cook said given the man was already on bail, living separately from the woman and required to report to police, there were no conditions that were not already in place that could ameliorate the risks of reoffending and failing to appear.