A HOME detention enquiry report has been ordered for a man facing a serious assault causing harm charge which allegedly left a Millicent woman with head and facial injuries.
Nikola Novakovich, 46, appeared via video-link in the Mount Gambier Magistrates Court on Tuesday and the defence counsel indicated it would be making an application for home detention bail to a premises at Prospect.
The prosecution said its main concern with bail was for the safety of the victim given the seriousness of the allegations and the defendant’s extensive history of violence.
“The fact he will be in Adelaide and monitored with equipment provides some comfort,” the prosecution said.
The court heard Novakovich was sentenced to eight years imprisonment in 2009 and was released on parole after serving five years, eight months and four days.
Defence counsel for Novakovich said he spent six months in the community before he was remanded in custody for a further two years, eleven months and 12 days for a charge dating back to 1990.
That charge related to the murder of a Coober Pedy woman in 1990, however Novakovich was acquitted in the Supreme Court last November and released from custody.
Defence counsel for Novakovich said he had only had two breaches of bail in the past, which were in 2005 and 2007.
Magistrate Anderson said the main issue she was grappling with was the likelihood of the defendant re-offending.
She ordered a home detention report and a specific bail enquiry report.
The bail application was adjourned until November 28 for those reports to be returned and counsel to make submissions.
