Amy Tayla Hill: Young woman’s violent assault outside South Dubbo Tavern

A 21-year-old woman who grabbed a woman’s hair and punched her in the head outside a pub in Dubbo has learnt her fate in court. Here’s the details.

Amy Hill appeared in Dubbo Local Court on Wednesday, November 9.

A young woman pulled at a woman’s hair before punching her multiple times outside a popular Dubbo drinking hole, a court has heard.

Amy Tayla Hill, 21, appeared at Dubbo Local Court on Wednesday where she pleaded guilty to affray.

According to an agreed set of facts tendered to court, Hill was with friends in the gaming room of the South Dubbo Tavern on June 5 when derogatory comments were exchanged with the victim.

Amy Hill appeared in Dubbo Local Court on Wednesday, November 9.

Later in the evening, a confrontation between the two women occurred in the female toilets, prompting staff to kick them out of the pub.

During the confrontation, the victim threw a glass at Hill.

Further comments were made between the pair, and while walking to a taxi in the carpark of the pub, Hill grabbed at the victim’s hair and clothing before punching her several times to the head.

At this stage, the victim’s friend attempted to separate and protect her.

The victim managed to break away from the attack and quickly left in the taxi.

A co-accused allegedly grabbed the friend as Hill and another co-accused allegedly knocked her to the ground before an unknown man separated the parties.

More than a month after the incident on August 15, Hill handed herself into Dubbo Police Station where she was placed under arrest and entered into custody.

In court on Wednesday, Hill’s lawyer Corey Suckling submitted his client had a “non-existent” criminal history and therefore appealed for a non-conviction.

Amy Hill was sentenced in Dubbo Local Court on Wednesday.

“It’s highly unlikely she will appear before the court again,” Mr Suckling said.

He continued by categorising Hill’s offending as “not at the lowest end but towards the lower end” of objective seriousness, explaining the “degree of violence” was not as high as other matters before the court.

Mr Suckling said there was “some level of provocation” towards his client or at least “a willingness to engage in confrontation from all parties”.

The court also heard Hill had “expressed her remorse” for actions on the night.

“She is a young woman with a bright future … for these reasons your honour I am seeking … a conditional release order without conviction,” Mr Suckling said.

“The court can be satisfied general deterrence can be achieved by the length of that order.”

Although accepting Mr Suckling’s submission regarding his client’s clean criminal record, police prosecutor Sergeant Adam Corrigan said “a conviction would be the only way to … [deter] the community”.

“It’s not acceptable behaviour,” Mr Corrigan continued.

In sentencing Hill, Magistrate Gary Wilson rejected the prosecutor’s calls for conviction.

“Ms Hill, you’re going to avoid a conviction, but only on this occasion,” Magistrate Wilson said.

She was ultimately placed on a conditional release order for 12 months.