Latoya Rose Martin pleads guilty to assault, obstruct police officer in Bundaberg court

As a fight over a laptop turned nasty, a homeless woman tried to kick police who were attempting to remove her from a violent situation.

A homeless woman “donkey kicked” a police officer and threatened to take her own life after police responded to a domestic violence incident involving her ex-partner.

A homeless woman “donkey kicked” a police officer and threatened to take her own life after police responded to a domestic violence incident involving the woman’s partner.

Latoya Rose Martin, 22, pleaded guilty last Friday in the Bundaberg Magistrates Court to charges of assaulting and obstructing police.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Vicki Kennedy-Grills told the court police attended a Svensson Heights address on January 18 in response to reports of a disturbance, and arranged for Martin to go to Bundaberg police station to provide a statement in regards to what had occurred.

Latoya Rose Martin “donkey kicked” a police officer and threatened to take her own life after police responded to a domestic violence incident involving her ex-partner.

While officers were escorting Martin to the police vehicle, an argument ensued between Martin and his partner over a laptop, Sergeant Kennedy-Grills said.

Martin’s lawyer told the court that footage recorded on police body-worn cameras showed Martin’s partner was “quite taunting and manipulating” towards Martin in the course of the argument, and police officers could be heard asking him to stop.

Sergeant Kennedy-Grills told the court Martin began “yelling and screaming” at her partner, and tried to push past one of the police officer who was standing between them.

The officer restrained Martin against a fence and told her to stop her behaviour, in response to which Martin donkey kicked the officer in the legs, the court was told.

Police officers then told Martin she was under arrest for assault and obstructing police officers, and forced her to the ground and restrained her with handcuffs.

While the officers were walking her to the police vehicle, Martin turned to her partner and said “I’m going to kill myself, I swear to God I’m going to kill myself,” the court heard.

Magistrate John McInnes sentenced Martin to 12 months’ probation and 40 hours of community service.

Sergeant Kennedy-Grills told the court Martin and her partner had a “combative” relationship, in which “neither party appears to have the skills to walk away from violence”.

Martin’s lawyer told the court her client was homeless, had a serious heart condition which caused her heart to race over 210 beats per minute, and she had since ended the relationship with her partner.

Martin did not intend to obstruct or assault police, but her actions were purely in response to her partner’s taunting behaviour and a feeling that her heart was racing and she needed some time to get back to normal, the court heard.

Magistrate John McInnes sentenced Martin to 12 months’ probation and 40 hours of community service.

Martin was convicted of one count each of assault police officer, contravention of domestic violence order, obstruct police officer and common assault.

Convictions were recorded.

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