Teen walks free after sentence for threatening witness

A TEENAGER accused of attempted murder has been released from prison after being sentenced for using Facebook to threaten a witness in the case.

A TEENAGER accused of attempted murder has been released from prison after being sentenced for using Facebook to threaten a witness in the case.

Maddison Paige Brown, 19, posted a threatening message on her own page on May 19 last year at Gympie after learning a woman also accused of the attempted murder had given a statement to police.

Maroochydore District Court on Thursday heard other people then added comments to the post against the woman.

Brown had been on bail at the time.

Maddison Paige Brown, 19, leaves Maroochydore Watch House after being sentenced for retaliating against a witness in an attempted murder case.

The post said karma didn't have an expiry date and it was going to shoot her so hard in the face she wouldn't see it coming.

Crown prosecutor Michael Gawrych said Brown would have known her victim would see the post.

He said Brown had also posted a police document which summarised the effect the statement made by her co-accused would have on her.

Defence barrister Stephen Courtney said his client had been working as a hairdresser and in the kitchen since being jailed in May last year.

Mr Courtney said Brown's parents had moved from Gympie to Tiaro and they were keen to have her home.

They were in court for the sentence.

Judge John Robertson noted Brown had been granted Supreme Court bail earlier this month on the attempted murder charge but had remained in custody until today's sentence.

Her bail conditions included a ban on using Facebook and no contact with the complainant in the attempted murder case.

Judge Robertson said threatening a witness struck at the heart of proper administration of criminal justice.

He took into account the fact that Brown had spent the past 335 days in prison.

Brown was sentenced to four months in jail, suspended immediately for two years.

She hugged her dad after walking from the Maroochydore Watch House.

She said she was pleased with the sentence.

"I couldn't expect anything better," Brown said.

She said she hoped to never go back to jail and wanted to move forward.

She said putting the post on Facebook was a "very dumb decision".

"I have changed and will stay changed."

She said she would be defending the attempted murder charge.

"I'm a bit scared but just have see how we go, I guess."