Taylor Holly Duck: woman on trial over alleged screwdriver attack

Taylor Holly Duck is facing trial in Queanbeyan District Court over an alleged home invasion where a young mother was stabbed in the neck with a screwdriver.

A pint-sized woman who allegedly stabbed the ex-girlfriend of her children’s father with a screwdriver during a home invasion is on trial at Queanbeyan District Court.

Taylor Holly Duck has pleaded not guilty to aggravated breaking and entering to commit a serious indictable offence, assault occasioning actual bodily harm in the company of others and two counts of stealing property from a house up to the value of $2000.

The court heard the complainant and a 20 year old woman lived together in a Queanbeyan house along with their respective children.

The complainant was in a relationship with the father of Ms Duck’s two children between May 2020 and June 2021.

During the relationship the children would have visitation with their father however the complainant did not have much interaction with Ms Duck.

Taylor Holly Duck, armed with a Chiko roll and a Coke, outside Queanbeyan Court on September 6. Picture: Julia Kanapathippillai

On the night 29th of June 2021, a woman and a man broke into the house, both wearing dark clothing and concealing their faces.

The man pushed the complainant’s housemate into a pole-dancing pole in the lounge room and punched her in the face.

The complainant was in the bathroom at the time of the alleged incident and the female intruder stabbed her neck with a screwdriver during the theft.

The intruders rummaged through drawers and took property including the keys for the complainant’s car.

Duck’s lawyer Jack Pappas said the case suffered from a “sloppy police investigation — amateurish, haphazard and incompetent”.

“Anyone can make an allegation” he told the jury.

“The case hinges on word against word.”

Pappas said the only DNA secured from the scene was that of Zachary Froome – “not my client” — and said police did not question or arrest him during the investigation.

He also questioned the complainant, stating she was “desperately unhappy” about her break up.

The barrister also said another woman, who has not been arrested, was in contact with the complainant leading up to incident.

He said that woman sent the complainant threatening messages including “I’ll make myself welcome c—t” but Mr Pappas said police neglected to interview her.

“(She’s) not on the list of witnesses,” he said.

Ending his opening argument, Mr Pappas urged the jury to “suspend your judgment”.

On Tuesday the jury heard evidence from the complainant, along with a triple-0 phone call and video from the police.

The complainant told the jury her ex-boyfriend used to live in the house with her, and had left a number of items in the household including documents and photo albums.

She said she made efforts to try to organise a time for him to retrieve these items, at one point even contacting his mother, but said it was not successful.

Taylor Holly Duck is facing trial in Queanbeyan District Court after allegedly stabbing a woman with a screwdriver during a home invasion. Picture: Julia Kanapathippillai

At the time of the incident, she said she heard screaming from the lounge, and found the female intruder in her bedroom.

The woman said the intruder was rummaging through her drawers and her scarf fell off briefly revealing her face.

The complainant said she knew it was Ms Duck because she could see a distinctive three dot tattoo under her eye, she described the female as blonde, about 4’11 – 5ft tall and had noticeable lip-filler.

The complainant said the intruders demanded for her car keys before the female intruder stabbed her in the neck.

She said during the attack she held onto her phone “for dear life” so she could call the police.

After the attack the woman said she went to the ground in front of her housemate and their children, and prepared to shield them in case intruders continued their attack, before calling Triple-0.

She told the court after the incident police did ask if she knew Mr Froome, but said she did not know who he was.

In a snippet of police body worn camera video the complainant is seen saying “It was Taylor” to first responders.

“She is his baby mama”, she said.

“She has a big vendetta against me.”

The trial continues.