Lilia Enzler pleads guilty to assault following spell threat

A mother of three believed her former partner’s new girlfriend had cast a spell to turn her blind when she confronted the pair.

Lilia Enzler pleaded guilty to common assault and wilful damage against her former partner for 25 years at North Mackay’s Spotlight believing that his new girlfriend had cast a spell to make her blind.

A Mackay woman believed a spell had been cast on her when she lashed out against her former husband and his new girlfriend in a rage snap at Spotlight.

The bizarre details were revealed in Mackay Magistrates Court which heard Lilia Enzler pushed the father of their three children and keyed his car.

Solicitor Robert Beamish, of McKay’s Solicitors, said his 65-year-old client had been under the impression her former partner’s new girlfriend had put a spell on her to make her blind.

The court heard spells were not uncommon in her culture – Enzler had been born in Japan but raised in the Philippines before moving to Australia in the late 70s.

Mr Beamish said Enzler and the victim had been in a relationship for 25 years before separating six years ago, but there was still some communication about their children.

He said several months ago his client had been messaging with her former partner’s new girlfriend over Facebook about the children, one of whom was high needs.

“The new partner conveyed a message to my client regarding making her blind,” Mr Beamish said, adding the threat had been passed on through her son.

“And this was considered as a spell.

“My (client) has spoken with others in the community, they have informed her this woman is a witch … witchcraft is accepted in the Philippines.

The incident happened about 10.20am on October 21, 2022 at Spotlight in North Mackay.

“My client was under the impression a spell had been cast on her by this woman.

“My instructions are, the spell was cast and to stop asking for money.”

The incident happened about 10.20am on October 21, 2022 at Spotlight in North Mackay.

Enzler approached her former partner, who was with his new girlfriend, verbally abused him before pushing him to the right shoulder.

Later when he returned to his vehicle in the business carpark he saw extensive scratch marks on the driver’s side panels.

The court heard she admitted to police she caused the damage.

“The interaction at Spotlight was completely random – she just bumped into them and she approached them,” Mr Beamish said.

The court heard she yelled at the new partner “you’re a witch and ugly”.

Enzler pleaded guilty to common assault and wilful damage.

Magistrate Bronwyn Hartigan accepted the conduct was “extremely out of character” for Enzler, who had no criminal history.

“She must have believed this,” Ms Hartigan said, adding it was “believable that there was some ill will that was being directed at you from this woman”.

“I can completely accept that whatever was going on, it was real.

“I think your character outweighs the seriousness of the offence.”

Enzler was placed on a six-month $1000 good behaviour bond and convictions were not recorded.