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A husband who allegedly tried to drown his recently estranged wife by driving their car into a lake in Canberra's north has been charged with attempted murder. The violent episode is alleged to have taken place after the couple's 28-year "on and off" marriage permanently ended. According to court documents, the wife picked up her husband, Randall Williams, 51, from work on the evening of July 31 this year in a Holden Clubsport that the pair were locked in an ownership dispute over. Police allege Williams told her to get out so he could drive and then became angry with her as they drove from Fyshwick to Belconnen. He allegedly began yelling at her and demanding she sign over the car to his name, before the argument subsided, only to flare up again as they turned onto Ginninderra Drive. Police allege he told her he was going to kill her and himself, saying: "I will take the pair of us out." Williams allegedly made a sharp turn into the Diddams Close car park near Lake Ginninderra, and drove towards the boat ramp, while repeating the threats. His wife began to fear for her life, police say. The vehicle accelerated hard and drove straight into the water, hitting it with such force that water splashed over the windscreen and onto the roof. The wife tried to get out, according to court documents, but Williams reversed quickly. He then drove the car back into the water. Police allege Williams tried to reverse again but the wheels began spinning, giving the wife an opportunity to escape. She walked away from the car and Williams allegedly began performing "doughnuts" in the carpark before driving towards her. He allegedly swerved sharply around her, before pulling up and opening the door, yelling abuse at her. Williams is said to have called his wife a "slut", yelled "f--- you", and told her that he was going to kill her and her dog. She later told police she was scared for her life and that all she could do was "put one foot in front of the other" and think "this is it". The wife said she was trying to call triple-0 but could not get her mobile phone to work. Williams is then said to have driven away and returned a short time later. He allegedly threatened to go home and kill her dog, which is a therapy animal used to help treat her post-traumatic stress disorder, if she did not get back in the car. She got in, believing she had no choice, and the pair went back to her home together. Williams was arrested and initially charged with three offences, including unlawful confinement, intentional threat to kill, and use offensive weapon. But he appeared back in the family violence lists of the ACT Magistrates Court last week, where he was charged with attempted murder. He entered a not guilty plea to that charge before Magistrate Beth Campbell. Williams remains in custody at the Alexander Maconochie Centre. Court documents suggest that Williams made admissions to police during an interview a month after the alleged attack. Police say he told them that he had had enough of his current situation and intended to drown himself and his wife by driving the car into Lake Ginninderra.

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