Ashlye-Rennee Paterson: Logan mum slashed girl, 14, with hunting knife in random attack

A young Logan mum slashed a 14-year-old girl with a large hunting knife in a random attack at a local park.

A young Logan mum who slashed the leg of a 14-year-old girl with a large hunting knife in a random attack at a park in Eagleby has been released on parole.

Ashlye-Rennee Abbey Paterson, 19, pleaded guilty in district court at Beenleigh on Thursday to one count of unlawful wounding and one count of possession of a knife in a public place.

The court heard a 14-year-old girl had been sitting on a park bench laughing with her friends when she was approached by Paterson, who was unknown to her, about 1pm on September 13, 2020.

The young mum had been walking towards the group with her brother and his friend.

The group of friends said they noticed Paterson after she began yelling at her brother before he and his friend walked off in a different direction.

She walked closer to the group and yelled at them before the 14-year-old victim suggested she calm down and leave them alone.

Paterson unzipped her bag and pulled out a 30cm-long hunting knife.

She held the knife above her shoulder and struck the girl’s right thigh in a downward motion.

It left a 15cm cut on her leg that began to bleed and later required nine stitches.

Paterson walked away from the group and said words to the effect of: ‘That’s what you get.”

The court heard Paterson later told police the girls had been laughing at her in the park and admitted to slashing her leg.

She also told them she threw the hunting knife away in a nearby drain.

Judge Nathan Jarro described the offending as “unnecessary violence inflicted upon a vulnerable innocent victim.”

“Even if you thought the complainant and her group were laughing, you did not have to resort to what you did,” he said.

“Even in times of emotional stress, there’s certainly no excuse for this sort of reaction.

“I think you should be thoroughly ashamed of your actions.”

She was convicted and sentenced to two years imprisonment with immediate parole release.