Chullora Woolworths: Meriam and Treiza Bebawy sentenced over toilet paper brawl
A mother and daughter who attacked another shopper over toilet paper at a Sydney supermarket at the height of panic buying have both been sentenced over the brawl.
The Express
Don't miss out on the headlines from The Express. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Two popular restaurants in Sydney’s southwest struck by virus
- Congestion-busting upgrade for M5 motorway set to go ahead
A mother and daughter who attacked another woman during a supermarket brawl over toilet paper at the height of coronavirus-induced panic buying have each been slapped with a good behaviour bond.
Magistrate Peter Bugden on Monday sentenced Meriam Bebawy, 23, of Bankstown, to a 12-month conditional release order with a conviction while her mother Treiza, 61, was given a conditional release order for the same term without a conviction.
Both women from Bankstown were excused from appearing in court on Monday.
The Bebawys had pleaded not guilty to one count of affray each, claiming their actions were in self-defence.
During a hearing over the matter on Friday at Bankstown Local Court, the pair’s counsel had argued the case against them should be dismissed prima facie.
However, in his judgment Mr Bugden found the elements of the charge had been made out by the prosecution and that Meriam and Treiza Bebawy “acted in a way that caused the affray to take place”.
Footage of the incident was played to the court during the hearing showing an altercation at Woolworths Chullora on March 7.
The prosecution alleged the Bebawys were violent towards another shopper Tracey Hinckson, 49, and would have caused people at the scene to fear for their safety.
CCTV and mobile phone footage showed a woman taking one of eight packets of toilet rolls from a trolley the Bebawys had filled before the scuffle begins.
“Ms Hinckson grabbed one of those packets and walked away, moved away. Twenty-three-year-old Meriam took after her in rapid fashion and she engaged with Tracey Hinckson and she, to use her words, smashed the packet from her hands,” Mr Bugden said.
“The three of them are seen in action … in aisle 10 and it is clear an incident has taken place.
“All of the civilian witnesses, and including Meriam and Treiza, say there’s screaming, yelling. It is an incident of some note. It is a classic affray.”
Mr Bugden said Meriam had taken the law “into her own hands”.
“I do not think it was appropriate that Meriam Bebawy continued in the way she did after she saw … what she regarded as her toilet roll taken. Treiza Bebawy then entered the affray.”
Defence counsel Matt Fordham submitted both his clients were of good character and valuable members within the community.
The court heard Treiza Bebawy was a former high school teacher who now operated a family daycare centre, and Meriam had provided frontline healthcare services since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mr Bugden noted both women’s lack of criminal record and good character before handing down his sentence.
Both women have lodged appeals, which will be heard in the NSW District Court on August 14.