Wollongong man jailed 10 months for knife threats over bird cage
Marko Sirijovski was jailed for 10 months. He held a knife to a woman's cheek. He threatened to kill her over a bird cage.
The 48-year-old pleaded guilty in Wollongong Local Court. An argument with a woman he knew turned violent.
She refused to let him bring a bird cage into her home. Sirijovski smashed a glass tumbler on a coffee table.
He then returned with two 30-centimetre knives. Sirijovski held one blade to the woman's cheek.
He screamed he would kill her. The woman escaped to the front yard as Sirijovski dropped the knives and threw sticks at her.
When police arrived, he was holding a handsaw. He threatened to slit officers' throats.
Judge Geraldine Beattie noted Sirijovski had been diagnosed with schizophrenia. He turned to illegal drugs following a family tragedy in 2022.
She sentenced him to 10 months jail. There was a six-month non-parole period for the threats.
He also got a 12-month community corrections order for threatening police. The judge said the woman should be safe in her own home.
- Two knives, 30 centimetres each
- Knife size
- September 29, Wollongong Local Court
- Court date
Why it mattersThe case shows the risks faced by domestic violence victims. Mental health crises and drug abuse can turn ordinary arguments into serious threats.
AustraliaDomestic violence remains a significant safety concern across Australia. The sentencing reflects courts taking such threats seriously, even where mental health factors are present.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 1 h ago
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