Elva Hoya Landers: Cherbourg mother sentenced for assaulting police, inciting teenagers to fight

Confronting bodycam footage has shown the moment a woman screams at teenagers to start a horrifying brawl, while a busload of terrified younger children run from the chaos crying. FULL STORY:

Police desperately scrambled to regain control when as many as 20 people, mostly teens and children, began brawling in broad daylight in a public street on the orders of a grown woman.

Thirteen-year-old children in school uniforms began throwing wild punches and a busload of younger children screamed and ran for safety into nearby buildings, while a mother of four can be heard instructing the teens to “rush them”.

Elva Hoya Landers, 41, was the inciter of the disturbing chaos and later spat in the face of a policeman while being arrested.

The despicable scene occurred outside the Cherbourg Council building at 4.30pm on June 20, just as school buses from nearby towns were returning.

Police prosecutor Barry Stevens said Landers was “inciting children to fight”, repeatedly telling the teens to “rush them”.

Elva Hoya Landers faced Murgon Magistrates Court on June 21, 2022. Picture: Facebook

Officers ordered Landers to leave the area to avoid a confrontation as a busload of school aged children arrived at the scene, but she continued to scream as a fight broke out.

“Disturbing” bodycam footage of the incident played in court showed young children running scared while screaming and crying.

Sgt Stevens told the court some children retreated onto the bus, while others fled into the council chambers for safety.

As she was being led away handcuffed after the violence was quelled, Landers spat in a police officer’s face.

Sgt Stevens noted Landers demeanour during the proceedings showed she had little regret over the shameful incident.

“I detect no remorse whatsoever,” he said.

“She’s sat in the dock, with her arms crossed defiantly watching this as if it’s a rite of passage. Her body language is as if she’s proud.”

Lawyer Babu Singh disagreed however, telling the court his client was not proud.

“She’s very remorseful and wants to apologise to the officer,” Mr Singh said.

He told the court in the lead up to the incident, her family had been subjected to a campaign of taunts and attacks.

Landers pleaded guilty to serious obstruct police, assaulting police and affray.

She was sentenced to four months’ jail, wholly suspended for 12 months.

Earlier this year police warned teenagers were becoming wrapped up in a sickening online trend that encourages young people to film themselves in violent brawls before posting the videos to dedicated social media pages.

Kingaroy police officer-in-charge David Tierney said this type of viral videos were a growing problem.

“It’s all driven by social media,” he said.

“Just like how people try and replicate stupid things on motorbikes and skateboards, they’ll copy whatever is going viral.”