Julia Melin sentenced to a suspended jail sentence after pleading guilty to assault
An intoxicated mother was “virtually frothing at the mouth” in anger when she attacked strangers at a city tram stop.
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A mother-of-three punched a woman in the face and spat on her in a random city attack before trying to bite a man who was attempting to restrain her.
Fuelled by alcohol and “virtually frothing at the mouth” in anger, Julia Ulrika Melin, 34, attacked strangers in the Adelaide CBD on December 13, 2019.
A police prosecutor on Thursday told the Adelaide Magistrates Court the victim was waiting at the North Terrace tram stop with her parents when the incident occurred.
“She noticed a female on the platform that appeared to be under the influence of a substance – she could hear the female yelling randomly,” the police prosecutor said.
“The victim said she tried to ignore the female, however the female then spat in her direction and the spit landed on her face.
“The female then punched her in the face which connected with her right cheek.”
The court heard the victim’s father and other members of the public tried to restrain Melin.
“He (a man assisting) tried to assist the victim’s father in restraining the accused – while he was in proximity to the accused, she lashed out at him and tried to bite the right side of his face,” the police prosecutor said.
“Her face made contact with his hair.”
The court heard Melin, again while intoxicated, stole Panadol on January 3, last year to help with a toothache.
Melin, of Lobethal, pleaded guilty on Thursday to multiple charges, including assault and disorderly behaviour.
Melin’s lawyer told the court the defendant was an unemployed mother-of-three.
The court heard Melin had been seeing a psychiatrist and had been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder.
“She’s found herself in a much better headspace – she hasn’t been drinking since October last year,” the lawyer said.
Melin’s lawyer told the court she turned to alcohol after a separation with her partner and that she was “clearly intoxicated” when she assaulted the people at the tram stop.
“It’s quite clear that she was angry enough to be virtually frothing at the mouth,” the lawyer said.
“She’s not in a position to dispute that saliva came out of her month but she doesn’t recall that being deliberate.”
Magistrate John Fahey said the offending was serious.
“It doesn’t help the victims in this case to know the reason they were punched or manhandled was because you were having a bad day or a bad life,” he said.
“They were still affected by it.”
Mr Fahey sentenced her to one week and 13 days jail.
He wholly suspended the sentence on a 18-month good behaviour bond of $200.
Convictions were recorded.
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