Merekee Beaton appeals assault conviction in District Court

A Byron father who assaulted his partner causing her to trip over a rocking horse has pleaded to the courts for a lesser sentence and non-conviction.

A Byron father who assaulted his partner causing her to fall over a rocking horse had his appeal quashed in the Lismore District Court on Tuesday.

Merekee Beaton was convicted of common assault in the Byron Bay Local Court on February 21 after a guilty plea.

There the 39-year-old was convicted and sentenced to a 12 month community corrections order.

Beaton, from Lillian Rock, appealed the recorded sentence on severity in the Lismore District Court on Tuesday.

The court heard on the night in question an argument had escalated where Beaton had pushed his partner twice, the second time causing her to trip over a rocking horse and fall to the ground.

Merekee Beaton outside Byron Bay Local Court where he was first convicted.

The defence asked the court to consider a conditional release order without conviction.

Judge Jeff McLennan told the defence “you’re kidding” and described Beaton’s behaviour as “disgraceful.”

The defence asked the court to consider Beaton’s remorseful, guilty plea and criminal history.

However that backfired as Judge McLennan pointed out Beaton had another common assault conviction in the ACT in 2006.

He accepted the defence submission that Beaton was remorseful and he was doing something about his behaviour through rehabilitation.

He said the penalty in the Local Court was a perfect, reasonable and just response to the matter.

“The appeal has not the slightest bit of merit,” Judge McLennan said.

The appeal was dismissed.