Jemely Vira Butcher, 27, jailed for Cairns CBD assaults

A 27-year-old Cairns woman has been jailed after brutal attacks on two “defenceless” strangers in the CBD, including dragging one victim to the ground by her hair before stomping on her head and slamming her face into the concrete more than a dozen times.

A 27-year-old Cairns woman has been jailed after brutal attacks on two “defenceless” strangers in the CBD, including dragging one victim to the ground by her hair before stomping on her head and slamming her face into the concrete more than a dozen times

A 27-year-old Cairns woman has been jailed after brutal attacks on two “defenceless” strangers in the CBD, including dragging one victim to the ground by her hair before stomping on her head and slamming her face into the concrete more than a dozen times.

Jemely Vira Butcher, who grew up in Lockhart River, pleaded guilty in Cairns Magistrates Court to 10 charges, including three assaults, affray and drug possession.

Police prosecutor Taylor Reedy told the court the most serious assaults occurred within three days in February, both captured on CCTV.

The first attack happened on February 7 at the Lake Street bus stop, where Butcher and three co-offenders approached a young woman sitting alone.

Butcher, described as the “instigator”, stood over the victim waving her hands in her face before the group took turns striking her in the head for more than two minutes.

Three days later, Butcher approached another young woman in the CBD, grabbing her by the hair and dragging her to the ground.

In an assault lasting more than four minutes, she dragged the victim by her hair, slammed her head into the ground repeatedly and punched, kicked and stomped on her head more than a dozen times.

Jemely Vira Butcher pleaded guilty in Cairns Magistrates Court to 10 charges.

“She continued to bash the woman’s head into the ground despite the victim being limp and motionless,” Ms Reedy said.

The woman only escaped when Butcher momentarily released her grip.

Neither victim knew their attacker.

Defence lawyer Elishbah Landy-Ariel said while the footage “looked dramatic”, the victims suffered relatively minor injuries, suggesting the “actual force” was low.

She said Butcher had a disadvantaged upbringing in Lockhart River marred by alcohol-fuelled violence.

Magistrate Adam Johnson described the assaults as “disgraceful, gratuitous violence” and said Butcher’s extensive criminal history, beginning in 2016, had been “amplifying in seriousness”.

“This was completely gutless and appalling behaviour in circumstances where each victim was by themselves,” he said.

“You preyed on defenceless victims.

“When it was clear in the video she was limp on the ground you continued using hammer strikes and kicking and stomping on her head.

“Thankfully she was able to escape.”

Butcher was sentenced to 20 months’ imprisonment.

Originally published as Jemely Vira Butcher, 27, jailed for Cairns CBD assaults