Western Downs woman, Natalie Jane Nystrom fronts court for punching victim in pokies room

A parolee claimed she was seeking revenge for a friend who tragically died in a car crash when she punched a woman in the face while in a Western Downs pokies room. See how it unfolded.

A woman already on parole fronted court once again after she shockingly punched another woman in the face while in a Western Downs pokies room.

Natalie Jane Nystrom appeared in Dalby Magistrates Court on August 1 by video link as she was arrested following the brazen attack.

Police prosecutor Chris Hutchins told the court that on May 3, the mother of three approached the victim, who was sitting on a swivel chair in the pokies room at Tara Commercial Hotel, pointing her finger.

“(Nystrom) then punched her in the face, (the victim’s) body knocked back off the chair, and she continued to stand over her,” Sergeant Hutchins said.

The court was told Nystrom said, “that was for Casey”.

Sergeant Hutchins said the woman was arrested and had spent 85 days in custody.

Natalie Jane Nystrom was sentenced at Dalby Magistrates Court on August 1, 2023 after punching another woman in the pokies room. Picture: Facebook

Defence lawyer Claire Graham said the 28-year-old woman was friends with a man who had dated the victim before he died in a car crash.

“She believed (the victim) made comments on TV that made a mockery of the deceased’s family,” Ms Graham said.

She also told the court Nystrom was released on parole for separate offending on June 26, 2021 which was expected to expire on September 30 this year.

Magistrate Kyna Morice highlighted that due to the woman’s offending she had now been away from her children for almost three months.

“You should have been more mindful of your fragile liberty at the time,” Ms Morice said.

Nystrom pleaded guilty to common assault.

She was sentenced to 85 days jail, with the amount of time spent in pre-sentence custody declared as time served and was given an immediate parole eligibility date.