April Goldner sentenced for breaking staff member’s nose in Chalkers pool hall assault

A pool hall brawl escalated when a “fired up” woman started violently throwing glass bottles, one of which broke a staff member’s nose who was escorting her out.

A woman said she made a “terrible mistake” when she broke a staff member’s nose during her violent attacks at a pool hall.

April Rose Goldner, 22, was intoxicated and fired up when she escalated a fight by throwing glass bottles.

The Adelaide Magistrates Court on Wednesday heard Goldner, Michael Vernon, 21, and two others attended Chalkers pool hall in Glenelg on January 24, 2021.

The court heard Goldner’s group and the first victim’s group merged and a verbal altercation occurred when the victim called her a name.

April Goldner was sentenced for two counts of assault. Photo: Facebook

“Rather than let it pass or walk away, you fired up and approached him and started punching him,” Chief Magistrate Judge Mary-Louise Hribal said during sentencing.

The court heard the victim raised his arms and his elbow hit Goldner, which caused a fight to break out.

“You then stepped back, grabbed a glass bottle from the table and threw it at the victim,” Judge Hribal said.

The court heard the bottle missed and flew over the balcony onto Jetty Rd.

Goldner then picked up another bottle and threw it at the victim, which struck him to the head and caused a laceration.

A female staff member ordered Goldner to leave and started escorting her out.

“As you were leaving you grabbed another glass from the ground, turned around and threw it with force back towards the group,” Judge Hribal said.

The court heard the bottle struck the staff member in the face and broke her nose.

A brawl then ensued on the balcony between both groups, which Vernon involved himself in.

The prosecutor said while it could have initially been self defence, Vernon re-entered the affray and punched a man.

Vernon, who pleaded guilty to fighting, was sentenced last month to a $500, 12-month good behaviour bond, with no conviction recorded.

Goldner, of Hove, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm.

Ms Davis said Goldner made a “terrible mistake” in how she behaved and significantly regretted it.

The court heard Goldner was working in a bakery and had aspirations to work in tourism, and had stopped using marijuana and drinking.

Judge Hribal said Goldner’s intoxication was no excuse and people needed to be deterred from using glasses as weapons in bar fights.

“They have the potential to cause significant injury and injured the people in this case,” she said.

Judge Hribal sentenced Goldner to eight months jail.

Due to Goldner’s youth and employment, the sentence was suspended on a 18-month good behaviour bond, with supervision.