Duygu Arici: Wellington teen sentenced for bashing housemate

A rouseabout punched, kicked and spat on her housemate before trying to pull the terrified woman out of a car during a savage DV attack.

A Wellington teen with a history of violence has faced court again after she was charged over a savage attack on her housemate.

Duygu Arici pleaded guilty to a domestic violence-related charge of assault causing actual bodily harm which was laid after she lashed out on April 24.

In court documents, police said Arici started shouting before grabbing the housemate’s collar and breaking two necklaces around her neck.

Wellington woman Duygu Arici was convicted of assault causing actual bodily harm after she bashed her housemate. Picture: Duygu Arici/Facebook

When the housemate ended up on the ground, police said Arici grabbed her by the hair and repeatedly punched her in the face.

Arici also kicked the housemate in the head and spat in her face.

When the housemate managed to get up, she ran out to her car but Arici chased her.

The housemate got in the car, however Arici continued to punch her while trying to pull her from the vehicle.

Police said the housemate, who had been friends with Arici since they went to primary school together, was left with a cut lip and red marks all over her head and neck area.

When police spoke to Arici, she claimed the housemate provoked her.

“She hit me first then I hit her back,” Arici said.

“I pulled her by her hair and dragged her a bit and I remember ripping her shirt, that I own.

“I probably did a bit more to her than she did to me.”

Defence lawyer Corey Suckling told Wellington Local Court Arici worked as a rouseabout, had a criminal history and admitted her behaviour was “significantly inappropriate”.

“She’s expressed remorse,” he said.

“I understand that the friendship with the victim is over.”

Duygu Arici faced Wellington Local Court on Tuesday. Picture: Google

Magistrate Stephen Olischlager said Arici’s assault on her housemate put her in breach of two previous court orders to be of good behaviour.

“It’s not a lengthy record … but it is certainly a concerning aspect in terms of you using violence when things become emotional or distressing to you,” Magistrate Olischlager told Arici.

“You are still quite young, still in the process of maturing. You’re getting older now, less weight will be placed on these issues of age and maturity … if there are further breaches of offences that involve violence on your part.”

Arici was convicted and sentenced to a two-year community corrections order which requires her to be of good behaviour.