Jessie Lee Donker launches drunken attack on couple while celebrating parole

A woman celebrating the end of her parole got “paralytic” drunk on tequila and launched a vicious attack at a popular Melbourne Tiki bar.

Jessie Lee Donker was jailed for the manslaughter of Richard Powell. Picture: Supplied

A convicted killer out celebrating her new-found freedom got “paralytic” on a bottle of tequila and assaulted a woman at a popular Melbourne bar.

The Herald Sun can reveal Jessie Lee Donker was just 58 days clear of her parole over the 2017 manslaughter of her partner, Richard Powell, when she launched the drunken vicious attack on March 5 last year.

Donker, 36, was descending the narrow stairs at The LuWOW on Little Collins St when she was faced with a couple trying to rush up past her about 10.15pm.

“Why don’t you wait, you arrogant f--k,” the mother-of-two barked at the male as she tried to navigate the stairwell after polishing off a 750ml bottle of tequila with a friend.

When she heard “keep walking love” in reply, she grabbed the man’s wife around the throat and “squeezed firmly” before pushing her against the wall.

A male friend with Donker then headbutted the woman, before trying to pull her husband down the stairs, but he escaped when he slipped out of his jacket.

Donker grabbed a woman by the throat at The LuWOW Tiki Tropical bar on Collins St.

Police soon after arrested Donker, who was found stumbling and falling over, on nearby Bourke Street.

She was taken to hospital before being charged with unlawful assault and being drunk in a public place.

The shocking details emerged as the mother-of-two last week fronted Melbourne Magistrates’ Court where she pleaded guilty to both charges and promised to be of good behaviour for 12 months.

Defence lawyer Domenic Care said his client conceded she was “paralytic” and “blind drunk”.

“This was celebratory drinks for the conclusion of her parole and head sentence,” Mr Care said, adding that it was also her birthday.

“There was some level of too much indulgence in alcohol that evening.”

The court heard Donker was sentenced to five years jail with a non-parole period of two years, after pleading guilty to manslaughter following the death of Mr Powell.

Donker was the victim of horrific domestic violence at the hands of Richard Powell. Picture: Supplied

The sentence reflected that Donker was the victim of horrific domestic violence at the hands of Mr Powell and had snapped that day when she chased him with a car in Sunbury.

She drove into a disabled parking sign that fell and cleaved open Mr Powell’s head, killing him instantly.

On November 6, 2019, Donker was released on strict parole conditions, which she complied with for three years until it expired on January 6 last year.

Magistrate Donna Bakos told Donker her latest offending was “bad behaviour fuelled by an extraordinary amount of alcohol”.

“Assaulting people who were minding their own business is unacceptable,” Ms Bakos said, adding her actions were even more aggravating being so soon after a lengthy parole period.

“I do hope for your sake, and the community, that everything you endured and had to do whilst on those strict parole conditions, that those lessons stay with you.

“You need to put trouble behind you.”

Ms Bakos convicted Donker and placed her on a 12-month good behaviour bond.

She also ordered she make a donation of $100 to the court fund.