Christie Lee Kennedy pleads guilty to dangerous operation of vehicle after hitting husband with car

A woman who hit her then-husband and his lover after discovering their affair has avoided serious jail time, a court has been told.

A woman who hit her then-husband and his lover with her car before assaulting the mistress has avoided serving any jail time, a court has been told.

Christie Lee Kennedy, 38, pleaded guilty in Brisbane District Court on Monday to dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.

She had found her husband David Larkin kissing another woman, Zowie Noring, in the Brisbane suburb of Wavell Heights in March 2021.

Kennedy then drove 45m into the street and struck the pair in her BMW SUV, sending them both sprawling onto the bitumen.

Christie Lee Kennedy intentionally ran over her then husband David Larkin and his lover Zowie Noring in March 2021. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

She then got out of her car and punched Ms Noring in the face, calling her a “fat moll” and a “slut” before getting back in the car and driving up the street where she parked and returned to her husband.

A jury last year found Kennedy not guilty on two counts of malicious act with intent to disable.

However, the same jury was unable to reach unanimous or majority verdicts on the offences of assault causing bodily harm against Kennedy in September.

The Crown withdrew the two assault occasioning bodily harm charges against the mother of two on Monday.

Christie Lee Kennedy was sentenced to nine months in prison but will serve her sentence wholly suspended for two years. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

Kennedy had previously pleaded guilty to common assault at the start of her trial last year after she punched Ms Noring in the face.

The court was told Kennedy had followed her husband to the street after she tracked him using the Find My Phone app installed on his phone after he’d told her he’d gone to pick up their children from daycare.

Kennedy saw the pair “kissing and cuddling” and accelerated towards them before applying her brakes, the court was told.

Kennedy and David Larkin during happier times. Picture: Facebook

“She drove on the wrong side of the road, she did not swerve or reposition the vehicle, she drove on the wrong side of the road for about 45m,” the Crown prosecutor said.

“Her vehicle struck both of them with the front side of the car. Mr Larkin was thrown into the air and onto the road.

“Ms Noring was also thrown onto the road. After hitting Ms Noring, (Kennedy) immediately attacked her which shows a lack of remorse for her actions at the time by punching a person who was laying on the ground after being hit.”

The Crown argued Kennedy should be jailed and sentenced to three years imprisonment.

Kennedy’s defence barrister, Penny White, told the court her client had not intended to hit the pair with her car but instead “get there quickly” when she chose to accelerate.

Christie Lee Kennedy, center, had been supported by friends, colleagues and family during Monday’s sentence. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

“She wanted to get to them and confront them about what was going on,” Ms White said.

“The only reason this happened was because her husband was kissing someone else and she wasn’t aware of it.”

Ms White said her client should receive a probation order at sentencing.

“A sentence of actual imprisonment is not within range for this offending in circumstances that there’s no deliberate intention to hit them and she used her brakes to stop,” Ms White said.

Judge Paul Smith sentenced Kennedy to nine months in jail for the two offences, which will be served wholly suspended for two years.

“I think it would be fair to conclude that you would be quite shocked about what you saw there despite what you suspicions you had prior,” Judge Smith said.

“You’re obviously an excellent employee and a very good mother and it’s a real shame you committed this offence but I do form a firm view that this offending is out of character and it’s unlikely you’ll reoffend with anything like this.”

Kennedy was ordered to pay $5,000 each in compensation to her ex-husband and Ms Noring. She has two weeks to pay the total $10,000 or face a possible one month in jail.

The court heard the pair had been physically and emotionally damaged by the event.

Kennedy was disqualified from driving for nine months.

Convictions were also recorded.

Originally published as Christie Lee Kennedy pleads guilty to dangerous operation of vehicle after hitting husband with car