Woman pleads guilty in Supreme Court to attacking Kingston resident with garden fork

A young Hobart woman who armed herself with a gardening fork before attacking a 53-year-old Kingston resident outside her own home has pleaded guilty to assault in the Supreme Court.

Hayley Renee Riley, 23, was charged over a violent incident that occurred in the southern Hobart suburb in August 2023, when the defendant approached the victim’s house as part of a larger group of people.

A young Hobart woman who armed herself with a gardening fork before attacking a 53-year-old Kingston resident outside her own home has pleaded guilty to assault and resisting arrest in the Supreme Court.

Hayley Renee Riley, 23, was charged over a violent incident that occurred in the southern Hobart suburb in August 2023, when the defendant approached the victim’s house as part of a larger group of people.

After knocking on the front door, the defendant announced she was there to bash a younger resident of the household, whom she described as “a s***”.

When the victim stepped outside to confront the group, Riley attacked her with the pronged gardening tool, causing a laceration to her temple which later required stitches at the Royal Hobart Hospital.

The court heard that when attending officers spoke to Riley, she was abusive to the victim, refused to comply with police instructions, and then resisted arrest.

Riley’s defence lawyer Cameron Scott told Justice Kate Cuthbertson that his client’s violent conduct had been committed spontaneously, and that her guilty pleas reflected genuine remorse.

Mr Scott asked Justice Cuthbertson not to impose a custodial sentence, and instead consider his client’s suitability for community service order.

Justice Cuthbertson bailed Riley to reappear for sentence on Monday 12 May.

Originally published as Woman pleads guilty in Supreme Court to attacking Kingston resident with garden fork