Mehajer's alleged bullet threat to woman's mother

Salim Mehajer allegedly threatened to put a bullet in the head of a woman's mother if she complained to police about him, a court has heard.

The controversial former deputy mayor of Auburn, a since-merged council in Sydney's west, is representing himself as he defends allegations of domestic violence.

The 36-year-old will present his defence to the jury on Wednesday after it received the Crown's opening statement on Tuesday afternoon, laying out what evidence can be expected as the NSW District Court trial continues.

Judge James Bennett told the jury members he wanted to give Mehajer time to reflect on his response as they were dismissed early.

Mehajer faces a string of domestic violence charges, including assault, intimidation and a charge of intentionally choking a woman who cannot be identified.

Crown prosecutor Ken Gilson says Mehajer's accuser is expected to say he was "charming and nice" when she first met him.

"She'll tell you as the relationship developed, he had bouts of anger where he would harm her physically," Mr Gilson told the jury.

Mehajer also threatened to harm her family or himself, Mr Gilson said.

"Listen here you little slut," Mehajer allegedly told her on one occasion.

"If you ever go to the police, I will get you and I will get your mum."

Mehajer allegedly threatened to put a bullet in her mother's head or have someone else do it if he was in jail.

Allegations were eventually made to police about a number of incidents, spanning almost three years.

Mr Gilson expected Mehajer to tell the jury the relationship was harmonious and amicable, until perceived infidelity prompted the woman to complain to police.

He allegedly punched the woman ten times in the head after she tried to grab the wheel while he drove "aggressively".

It followed an earlier alleged argument when Mehajer told the woman she could not wear a necklace with a religious cross.

He allegedly told her to "stop crying" because he was "embarrassed" by it after they arrived at a restaurant.

Around the same time, Mehajer allegedly demanded to know who she had been texting, pinning her down and squeezing her hand so hard it cracked her phone screen.

More than a year later, Mehajer allegedly took the woman's phone after dragging her from the lounge room to the laundry, pinning her against the wall and threatening her.

The pair were sleeping in separate bedrooms by the time the "most serious" alleged incident occurred, Mr Gilson said.

Mehajer allegedly inflicted a "dead" arm, throwing an object at the woman after yelling about there not being enough water bottles in the fridge, before impeding her breathing.

"He put his hands over my mouth and nose and kept threatening to beat me to death and I couldn't breathe," a text she sent a friend will show, Mr Gilson told the jury.

She says she passed out and woke up to find Mehajer hitting his head on the toilet bowl.

The trial continues.

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