STATE OF TASMANIA v PAUL JOSHUA ENRIGHT 1 DECEMBER 2025
COMMENTS ON PASSING SENTENCE SHANAHAN CJ
Paul Joshua Enright, you have pleaded guilty to a single count of assault contrary to s 184 of the Criminal Code, in that at Hobart on or about 25 August 2024 you unlawfully assaulted Zoe Alexis Enright by pushing her to the ground and grabbing her neck with your hands.
You were born on 5 March 1995. The complainant was born on 14 July 1979. You and the complainant have been married for 10 years and have two children together.
On 24 August 2024, you were both out for the night in Hobart. Throughout the night, you both consumed alcohol at various venues in the Hobart waterfront area.
In the early hours of the morning, at approximately 12.30 am, on Sunday 25 August 2024, you were both walking along Collins Street, Hobart in the vicinity of number 160 Collins Street.
At that time the complainant told you that she wanted to go home, but you responded that you wanted to go to the Men’s Gallery instead. At that time the complainant started to walk away from you. You chased down the complainant and continued to talk about going to the Men’s Gallery. The complainant then told you she was going home and that she was getting an Uber.
You and the complainant then argued and you pushed the complainant to the ground, causing her to land on her back. A struggle ensued during which you grabbed the complainant’s neck with both hands, applying pressure to her neck.
The complainant believed she was going to die during the altercation. Whilst the application of pressure was short-lived, she felt it prevented her from screaming, and she struggled for breath. Her glasses broke during the altercation. She managed to fight you off and you left, walking towards the Hobart CBD area.
The complainant called out for help, and two members of the public stopped to render assistance, and contacted police for her on her mobile phone. As a result of the incident, the complainant sustained visible bruising and scratches to her neck.
The complainant’s injuries were observed by attending police on the night and photographs were taken, which I have seen. Police observed the complainant was crying and visibly distraught. The complainant was conveyed to the Hobart Police Station, where she provided a statement to police.
On the journey to the police station, the complainant called her son and asked him to lock the door and not let you in if you returned to the family home.
You were located a short time later at the Royal Hobart Hospital. After being cleared by medical staff, you were arrested at 6.05 am. You were detained until you were sober enough to participate in a video interview.
In interview and under caution, you made the following statements: You and the complainant had a relatively good relationship until recently. You and the complainant had been out drinking in Salamanca on the evening of 24 August 2024. You and the complainant attended several venues in the area before deciding to go to the Men’s Gallery.
On the walk from Salamanca to the Men’s Gallery you and the complainant started arguing. You could not recall what your argument was about. The complainant turned on you and got angry with you. The complainant walked off and you followed her. You could not recall knocking the complainant to the ground. You could not recall grabbing the complainant’s neck. You could not recall what happened for a short period of time during the altercation between you and the complainant. After the altercation you walked towards the Tasman Bridge.
At the conclusion of the interview you were charged, processed, and detained for court. The complainant did not reattend the police station for forensic photographs of her injuries to be taken as requested by police. The complainant did not receive any medical treatment. You and the complainant have remained in a relationship since the incident.
I was provided with some photographs showing heavy bruising to the complainant’s neck and face, which record her injuries as well as your assault upon her.
There is no previous criminal history.
The State made some short general submissions. I accept the State’s submission that domestic violence is always a serious matter. Too often such violence is fuelled by alcohol, as in this case, and it requires general and specific deterrence and denunciation.
The State also submitted, and I accept, that any type of injury, or any type of assault involving the neck, is in an inherently vulnerable area, and that you applied pressure to the complainant’s neck is significant. She felt like she could not scream, and she was struggling to breathe. However, you are to be sentenced on the basis that you did not intend to obstruct the complainant’s breath or blood flow and were not reckless in that regard. However, the fact that the complainant struggled for breath and felt like she was going to die indicates the seriousness of this assault.
This incident does appear to be something of an aberration from your normal behaviour, but a concerning and somewhat unexplained departure. The State submitted that a suspended sentence would be an appropriate disposition in this instance.
I have carefully considered the complainant’s victim impact statement. The complainant makes it clear that until this incident, and having known you for 11 years, you had never physically or verbally abused her. Your assault upon her scared her, and the photographs provided suggest the serious nature of that assault.
The complainant indicates that she considers that there may have been a medical reason for your behaviour, and you have consulted with doctors including a neurologist. I understand that there is a possibility that you suffered from hyperammonaemia at the time from only consuming Manshakes for a number of weeks prior to the incident. Hyperammonaemia is a condition that happens when you have high levels of ammonia in your blood and it can cause sudden mood swings and irritability. Of course, excessive alcohol consumption can produce similar symptoms.
Your counsel submitted that you are continuing to undergo neurological assessment for a rugby-related brain injury, and that you may have a concussion syndrome that is related to rugby.
As a result of medical investigations the complainant indicates that you have participated in a sleep study and started to see a psychologist. The complainant states that she has seen positive changes in you.
The complainant records your difficulties growing up in a family where both parents were IV drug users. She notes your traineeship at the ANZ as a 16 year old and your qualifying for a recreational pilot’s licence. Somewhat enigmatically perhaps in the circumstances of this offending, the complainant states that you do not consume alcohol, cigarettes or any illegal substance.
She states that you have moved on from the bank and that for the last 10 years you have been driving MC trucks to pay for your growing family and allow your wife to stay home with your son, who is 15 years old with special needs and who is home schooled. The complainant states that she is limited in the days that she can work, and currently works Friday through Sunday afternoons at the Emergency Room at Hobart Private and that during those times you have your two young daughters in your care.
The complainant says that she is not scared of you and values your protection in the family home, she refers to earlier abuse in her life in that context. She states that you have made positive changes since the incident and completed all requested courses, including the Men’s Program with Relationships Australia. She is looking forward to starting couples’ counselling after your separation due to this offending.
It is quite clear from the victim impact statement that the relationship is ongoing. I note that the complainant has indicated that she does not wish for you to be incarcerated for this matter. Of course, it is always important to consider a complainant’s views, but they also need to be weighed with community expectations and denunciation. You are lucky to continue to enjoy the support of the complainant.
In mitigation I was provided with a series of character references. They included references by: (i) Glenn Cameron Jackman, a Correctional Officer with Tasmania Prison Services with 11 years experience, dated 9 September 2025; (ii) Huy Nguyen, an airline captain, and (iii) Stewart Tahana a licensed plumber. I accept that you have previously been of good character. Unfortunately that is often the case in matters involving domestic violence.
I also have a statement from Ben Moroney confirming that you have completed the Men Engaging New Strategies (MENS) Program at Relationships Australia. That is a programme stretching over 20-24 weeks. I accept that you have taken responsibility for your offending and are remorseful.
That is reflected in a letter of remorse that you have provided to the Court. I note your written commitment to making amends and to continue to work on your marriage.
I have confirmation of your employment as a multi-combination diver by SRT Logistics.
I note the speculation as to whether the consumption of Man Shakes and/or CTE symptoms contributed to your behaviour. In any event you have taken steps to address your offending and the complainant supports your account of your rehabilitation in her observations in the Victim Impact Statement.
I am told that you are an industrious man. That you are a truck driver with SRT Logistics, and that you have been with them now a bit over two and a half years, and prior to that – have been a truck driver for over a decade. You are educated to year 12, and hold a certificate II in business.
Your plea of guilty reflects your remorse and contrition and ownership of your offending. Your wife confirms that you have never been violent with her in the past. I have no doubt that this incident has been a shock for both you and your wife.
The pre-sentence report dated 14 October 2025 assesses you as unsuitable for community service because of your employment, unsuitable for community supervision because of your low risk and completion of the MENS program, and unsuitable for the Family Violence Offender Intervention Program also because you have completed the MENS program. It appears that Community Corrections accept that you have done much of the heavy lifting yourself when it comes to your rehabilitation.
Paul Joshua Enright, I convict you on the single count of assault contrary to s 184 of the Criminal Code on Indictment 326/2025. You are sentenced to a term of imprisonment for 8 months which term I wholly suspend for a period of 18 months. It is a condition of that order that whilst it is in force you do not commit any offence punishable by imprisonment. If you breach that condition then a court must order that you serve that term unless it is unjust.
I have not imposed any orders for community service, community supervision or family violence offender programmes because of the terms of the pre-sentence report presented to the Court. It is now up to you to justify that assessment and ensure that when you look back this incident can properly be described as an aberration in a life which otherwise appears to have been typified by good character and appropriate behaviour.