Shallissa Biles: Young woman assaulted cousin after drunken night out in Brewarrina

A young Brewarrina woman has received a stern warning from a Magistrate over her alcohol consumption after an altercation with a family member. Here’s why.

A family get-together at a local Brewarrina watering hole has turned ugly after a young woman assaulted her cousin.

Shallissa Biles, 22, appeared in Narromine Local Court on Tuesday, pleading guilty to domestic violence related common assault after her arrest on May 20 this year.

Biles was drinking that same night at the Brewarrina RSL with the victim and co-accused when an argument ensued.

According to agreed facts tendered to court, Biles told the victim her father was not actually her father.

Shallissa Biles outside Narromine Local Court on Tuesday.

The victim then told Biles to “go f**k your mother”, then saying to another family member “your father’s a pedo”, agreed facts state.

The co-accused allegedly punched the victim twice in the face as Biles joined in, dragging her by her “hair and legs” across the roadway toward the Brewarrina Community Hall.

Biles continued to punch and kick the victim “a number of times to the head and body” as the co-accused allegedly fled from the scene. Police arrived a short time later.

In speaking to police, Biles initially said there was only a verbal argument which was rejected by the victim who said she was assaulted and confirmed by CCTV footage from the RSL.

Biles was arrested and taken to Brewarrina Police Station with the co-accused later arrested after officers found her allegedly arguing with the victim on Dooral St.

The court heard from Biles’ defence lawyer Arthur Nguyen on Tuesday, who appealed for a supervised community corrections order, highlighting his client’s “youth” and “Aboriginality”.

He asked for similar orders to be imposed for two unrelated matters from last year which were called up, including a community corrections order for a break and enter charge and a conditional release order for intimidation.

Magistrate Stephen Barlow was understanding of the subjective case raised by Mr Nguyen, describing the fresh matter as “unfortunate”.

“Maybe if she had the supervision [before] she wouldn’t be sitting here today,” Magistrate Barlow said.

“Alcohol affects us in different ways, some people take 20 to 40 years to figure out their relationship with [it].

“You seem to be learning that it’s really bad for you.”

While noting a criminal record that wasn’t “very long”, Magistrate Barlow warned Biles of a worrying “trajectory” and further explained how fortunate she was that the victim was uninjured.

“When drinking you seem to turn into some sort of monster,” Magistrate Barlow continued.

“I don’t know for sure [but] there might have been a bit of pain in your childhood and you could be using alcohol as medication to take the pain away.

“You do have an alcohol problem, I think you’re starting to realise that.”

In sentencing Biles, Magistrate Barlow placed the 22-year-old on a nine-month community corrections order to be supervised by Dubbo Community Corrections.

“I think that could be long enough to really tackle that alcohol issue,” Magistrate Barlow said.

“Don’t see it as punishment, but an opportunity to [address] some of your issues.

“You might have to be one of those people that stops drinking alcohol, that would be a really brave and courageous decision.”