Miriam Bowenda, 39, of Aurukun, jailed for beating her drinking companion unconscious

A woman who attacked her female drinking companion with a metal walking crutch that she took from an amputee has been jailed for the “extremely dangerous” daylight attack in a Cairns park.

Miriam Bowenda has been sentenced to 20 months jail for knocking a woman unconscious and assaulting a man, 61, with the man’s metal crutch, when he came to her aid.

An Aurukun woman who attacked her female drinking companion with a metal walking crutch that she took from an amputee has been jailed for the “extremely dangerous” daylight attack in a Cairns park.

Magistrate Leanne Scoines described the assault on the woman and on the man whose walking crutch she used, as “inappropriate and extremely dangerous street violence that must be condemned”.

Miriam Bowenda, 39, of Aurukun, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault occasioning bodily harm in company while armed on August 24, 2024 and was sentenced to 20 months imprisonment.

She also pleaded guilty to twice stealing alcohol from the Edmonton BWS in October and November 20204, which had a combined total value of $526, and for failing to appear in court, for which she received an additional one-month sentence.

Miriam Bowenda stole more than $500 worth of alcohol from an Edmonton bottle shop late in 2024.

Cairns Magistrates Court was told the attack occurred behind the Cock and Bull pub, where Bowenda had been drinking with at least three friends, including the female victim, a young relative and the 61-year-old man who owned the walking crutch.

An disagreement broke out and the violence escalated quickly, Ms Scoines said.

The court was told Bowenda struck the female victim several times across the head and face before the 61-year-old man rolled his body into the path of the blows to help the victim.

He was attacked too.

“The (first) victim received several blows to the face and head, rendering her unconscious — this type of street violence must be condemned.” Ms Scoines said.

“It is aggravated by the fact that one of the victims was an elderly man with obvious incapacity issues.”

Miriam Bowenda grew up surrounded by ‘extreme’ violence and drinking culture, said her lawyer.

Defence solicitor Madison Thieme said Bowenda had grown up amid “extreme violence and drinking”, and had herself been drinking heavily on the day of the attack.

She said Bowenda had been struggling with alcohol issues for some time and her recent stint in prison was a “wake-up call”.

The court was told Bowenda was on parole for other offences when the attacks occurred.

Magistrate Scoines set Bowenda’s parole eligibility date at July 26, 2025.

Originally published as Miriam Bowenda, 39, of Aurukun, jailed for beating her drinking companion unconscious