Man told his partner of 16 years 'I want your life' before attempting to suffocate her with tea towel

A man who told his partner of 16 years ‘I want your life’ before using a tea towel to try and suffocate her has been jailed.

Appearing via videolink before Limavady Magstrates’ Court this morning was Swlwestr Kaleta who was charged with non-fatal strangulation or asphyxiation.

The 47 year-old was further charged with making threats to kill and common assault.

The offences relate to an incident on October 20 2024.

A further charge of domestic abuse on dates between October 1 2023 and October 20 2024 was also before the court.

Outlining the facts of the case, a prosecutor stated that police were contacted on October 20 by the injured party’s daughter who alleged that Kaleta had strangled her mother with a tea towel and that a knife had also been involved.

Police attended the property and spoke with the injured party who claimed that her daughter had left work earlier that morning and she had remained in the bedroom that they share together.

She stated that her partner, Kaleta, came into the bedroom some time later and stood in the room staring at her for approximately five minutes.

When the woman asked Kaleta what he wanted, she claimed that he replied: “I want your life and you are the one making me do something.”

The woman said she noticed that Kaleta had a tea towel in his pocket and when she told him ‘it’s my life, I will do what I want with it,” he allegedly responded: “You don’t have any more life now.”

The woman claimed that Kaleta then proceeded to jump on top of her leaving her unable to move.

The injured party said she told Kaleta that she needed to go to the toilet but he said: “There is no point, you have no life left.”

At this point, the injured party observed a black handled knife in Kaleta’s pocket and she pulled it out and told him to leave or she would stab him, the court was told.

The court heard that Kaleta held onto the injured party’s wrists during the incident which lasted approximately 30 minutes.

He then placed the tea towel over her nose and mouth for approximately five seconds before saying: “Sorry, I can’t do it,” and moved away.

The court heard that the injured party claimed that she was scared that Kaleta was going to kill her during the incident.

She claimed that she did not phone the police and when Kaleta asked her why she hadn’t, she said she didn’t want her daughter to know.

Kaleta then left the property to purchase alcohol and the court heard that the more he drank, the more abusive he became.

When the injured party’s daughter returned to the property, Kaleta told her that he was going to kill her mother.

As the details were read to the court, Kaleta, who has currently served five months in Maghaberry Prison, could be seen holding his head in his hands.

The court was also told details of his previous ‘controlling behaviour’ including hiding the injured party’s passport, not allowing her to sit on the kitchen chairs and removing a lightbulb from a light fitting.

The court heard that when police arrested Kaleta he confirmed that he was in the bedroom with the injured party but stated that the behaviour was ‘playful’ in the beginning.

He said that the knife was an old one that he had for some time and stated that he felt that the injured party was going to stab him so he had grabbed her wrists.

During the interview Kaleta also denied making threats to kill.

However, during a further interview, he stated that he was a ‘controlling person’ but claimed that this was due to his mental health.

Kaleta’s barrister Thomas McKeever described the domestic offences as ‘very serious’.

He explained that the couple had been together for a period of 16 years and the relationship was ‘breaking down’.

He added that there had been alcohol issues and Kaleta, who has a previous clear record, is ‘very ashamed of his behaviour and is very remorseful’.

Addressing Kaleta, who worked as a fabricator, District Judge Peter King said the fact he had a tea towel in his pocket suggested that there was an element of premeditation involved.

He added that Kaleta’s history of coercive control was also an aggravating factor.

Judge King sentenced Kaleta to 14 months jail - seven months of which will be served in custody.

In addition, he imposed a restraining order preventing Kaleta from contacting the injured party for a period of five years.

Kaleta, whose address was given as Gortahar Road, Rasharkin, is also banned from going within 500 metres of this property.