Aida Consuelo Argueta faces Ipswich court for enlisting ex to exact vigilante justice on abusive partner

A desperate mum was “torn between two bad men” when she enlisted her abusive ex to exact “vigilante” justice on her new abusive partner, a southeast Queensland court has heard.

Aida Consuelo Argueta leaves Ipswich court on February 29, 2024. Picture: Nicola McNamara

An Ipswich mum has been punished for inciting her ex to exact “vigilante” justice on her new partner, who a court heard is alleged to have committed “horrific and violent offending” against her.

Riverview mum Aida Consuelo Argueta pleaded guilty in Ipswich Magistrates’ Court on February 29 to entering a dwelling with intent while in company (DV), unlawful possession of weapons (a flick knife), and two breaches of bail.

The court heard Argueta had been in a “domestically violent relationship” with a man in March last year.

She had been living with him for a short time in Springfield Lakes when she contacted her ex-partner – who the court heard had also been domestically violent towards her – for help.

Magistrate Dennis Kinsella said Argueta sent her ex details of the new partner’s home address, and the ex-partner drove there with a friend of his on March 23.

Mr Kinsella said the ex-partner texted Argueta asking her to open the door, but she refused.

He said she had wanted to “maintain the pretext that (she) knew nothing about what was going on”.

The court heard the new partner saw the ex outside on some cameras and shut himself in the bedroom.

Mr Kinsella said the garage door was kicked in and the ex allegedly pointed a gun at the new partner and chased him.

He said Argueta pleaded guilty on the basis there had been some pre-planning on her part, but that she had been unaware her ex would have a gun or inflict the “level of violence” that was alleged to have occurred after that.

“You not only were the instigator, but you did provide vital information in real time in circumstances where violence was to be anticipated,” Mr Kinsella said.

Police located Argueta with her ex-partner at a motel a few days later, where she was found in possession of a flick knife.

Crown prosecutor Ashleigh Wakefield said the man who had driven the ex to the home had been sentenced to two years jail with immediate release for his role in the offending.

The ex partner had not yet been sentenced, however.

Defence lawyer John Wilson acknowledged his client had made a “very poor choice,” but said she had been “torn between two bad men”.

He explained Argueta had been homeless before the victim offered her a place to stay, and their intimate relationship only kicked off after that.

He said it would be alleged Argueta was subjected to some “horrific and violent offending” while staying with the victim.

Mr Wilson said Argueta suffered from mental health issues as a result of her experiences with domestic violence.

Mr Kinsella said he had taken the domestic violence against Argueta into account.

“It provides the narrative which essentially allows me to characterise this as an act of vigilantism – that is an act of ‘getting square’ so to speak,” he said.

“Citizens within our society should not and must not take the law into their own hands – irrespective of how aggrieved they may be.”

“This kind of unlawfulness needs to be stamped out, and the message sent to the community that it will not be tolerated.”

He sentenced Argueta to two years jail with immediate parole and two days of presentence custody declared as time served.

“Do not underestimate how close you have come to going to jail today,” Mr Kinsella told Argueta.

“Whilst you have the sympathy of the court and the community with respect to why this all came about, you have the condemnation of the court and the community because of the way you went about it.”

Argueta was also fined $700 for the weapon possession and breaches of bail.