Emily and Nathaniel Regueira sentenced for Coffs Cup race day melee

A day at the races ended in a backyard brawl after three women left a maxi taxi share ride without paying. Read how a flood hero’s wife entered the fray, using a shoe as a weapon.

Nathaniel Oscar Regueira, 29, pleaded guilty to three counts of common assault and Emily Rose Regueira, 29, pleaded guilty to three counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

A prominent Alstonville business couple who got into a backyard bust-up with fellow taxi passengers “doing a runner” has been sentenced after a wife came to her husband’s aid with a high-heeled shoe.

Nathaniel Oscar Regueira, 29, pleaded guilty at Lismore Local Court on Tuesday to three counts of common assault and Emily Rose Regueira, 29, pleaded guilty to three counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Police facts state the Regueiras attended the Coffs Cup race day on August 5, 2021 and at about 5.30pm, they and the victims - three women - got into a maxi taxi.

The two parties were unknown to one another, with the Regueiras headed to a Coffs Harbour hotel.

Nathaniel Oscar Regueira, 29, pleaded guilty to three counts of common assault and Emily Rose Regueira, 29, pleaded guilty to three counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

When the three victims got out of the taxi without paying the fare, “they pulled a runner” and went into a house, Magistrate Jeff Linden said.

Mr Regueira reacted by jumping a fence, walking through the backyard, and knocking on the back door of the property.

One of the victims started recording the incident on her mobile phone, threatening to call police.

The back door was then opened and the three women came out to confront Mr Regueira.

A loud verbal argument followed about the payment of the taxi fare, during which one of the victims shouted “get out of my house”.

At this point one of the women tried to force Mr Regueira out of the yard. There was some pushing and shoving between Mr Regueira and the three victims, police facts state.

One of the women then punched Mr Regueira, saying “get off my property”.

Ms Regueira then entered the back yard, removing her black high-heeled shoes.

She stepped around her husband and struck each of the victims in the head with the heel.

“A violent melee started, and (the Regueiras) fell backwards into a nearby fish pond,” police facts stated.

The fracas continued, as the victims began to retreat.

“All three victims were bleeding heavily from their lacerations, and they were forced backwards onto a couch,” police facts state.

One of the victims yelled: “She just hit me with her shoe.”

Mr Regueira yelled: “I don’t f***in’ care.”

Mr Regueira was repeatedly yelling: “You owe someone money.”

Mr Regueira grabbed one of the victim’s and pushed her head into a couch. One of the other victims then punched Mr Regueira until he let go.

A witness called triple-0, and a short time later police and paramedics arrived, separating the warring parties.

The couple was arrested and Ms Regueira’s high-heeled shoes were seized.

The victims were taken to Coffs Harbour Health Campus by ambulance. One needed three stitches near her hairline, another four stitches on her forehead and the third six stitches by her eye.

The Regueiras’ defence solicitor, Ms Anderson, told the court the couple were “two young local people who are very hard working”.

Ms Anderson said the offending was out of character for the two, and they “both consumed probably more alcohol than they should have” at the races.

During the February floods, Mr Regueira was instrumental in saving the lives of over 30 flood victims, the court heard.

The Regueiras run a small business in Alstonville, Infinity Kitchens & Cabinets, with Ms Reguiera being heavily involved in community as a volunteer.

Ms Anderson said as a small-business owner, Mr Regueira could empathise with the distress the fare evading would have caused the taxi driver.

The court heard Ms Regueira had “no real understanding” that her shoe would cause such injuries, and the couple had a “deep sense of shame and remorse”.

Magistrate Linden said the character references he had received for the two accused were “outstanding”, and acknowledged their high standing in the community as business owners and volunteers.

“And without in any way condoning what happened, I have regard for the circumstances,” Mr Linden said.

They were both also charged with trespassing, with Mr Linden dismissing the charge.

But on the other matters the Regueiras were each sentenced to a community release order for 12 months, without proceeding to conviction.