Shanaya Walsh: Barnawartha woman king hits stranger, drags her by hair

It was just after midnight when this Barnawartha woman unleashed a vicious and unprovoked attack on a female stranger walking home from work.

Shanaya Walsh.

A woman was left with a concussion and chunks of hair ripped from her head after she was assaulted in a random attack on Dean St in December.

Shanaya Walsh faced Albury Local Court on Wednesday after pleading guilty to common assault causing actual bodily harm.

After finishing work at the Woolhouse bar at 12.20am the female victim was walking along Dean St with a group of five men when they heard Walsh yelling towards them: “who the f--- do you think you’re talking to?”, court documents revealed.
Walsh was unknown to the group so they ignored her, and Walsh kept walking away from them.
After walking about 70m, Walsh then walked back towards the group.
She walked out off the footpath and ran towards the victim from behind, punching her in the back of the head and causing the victim’s vision to go black.

Walsh then punched her in the back of the head again and the victim fell to the ground, calling out “help me” to the group she was with.

Walsh dragged the victim across the concrete by her hair and kicked out at the group of men.

She finally let go when chunks of hair started breaking free from her head.

Walsh yelled “that’s how you make an example” repeatedly before continuing along Dean St.

The accused was arrested on December 22, and police stated in court documents that Walsh showed no remorse.

The 22-year-old Barnawartha woman was already on a Communtiy Corrections Order for offences she committed earlier in 2020.

She appeared in court via video link, wearing a silver cross necklace, after being remanded in custody since December 22.

Her grandparents sat in the courtroom in support.

She read out a handwritten apology letter before the court.

“I have sincere apologies …” she said.

“I am quite remorseful and regretful for my actions.

“I now hold myself responsible for my actions and believe I could become an asset to my community.”

Walsh’s defence solicitor Lucy Maranga said a community-based sentencing option such as an intensive corrections order (a jail sentence within the community) would be the most suitable option for the accused, who would stay with her grandparents upon her release.

Magistrate Richard Funston faced a difficult decision as Walsh’s grandparents lived in Victoria, and if he was to place Walsh on an ICO, she had to reside in NSW.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Andrew Pike argued that the threshold for jail time had been crossed.

“I appreciate the dilemma Your Honour is in,” Sgt Pike said.

“I submit the threshold is crossed.

“It then falls to Your Honour to decide whether it can be dealt with in an ICO given her grandparents reside at a Victorian address.”
Magistrate Funston agreed that Walsh was facing a jail sentence.

“You’re on a CCO for a steal from person which I only gave you in November last year, then so soon later you’re up on an assault charge,” Mr Funston said.

Mr Funston decided to give Walsh a chance given her young age, guilty plea, and the fact she had been in custody since December.

Walsh was sentenced to a two year Community Corrections Order with supervision.