Young Kingaroy mother Amy Lee fined for punching acquaintance over Facebook post

A young Kingaroy mother has been fined after she assaulted a family friend after a Facebook post. FULL DETAILS:

A young Kingaroy woman has found herself before the courts for the first time after she punched a family friend over a social media post.

Amy Lee, 27, fronted Kingaroy Magistrates Court on Monday, May 10, and pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm, trespass and breaching bail conditions.

Police prosecutor Pepe Gangemi told the court the assault and trespass occurred on January 31 this year, at a Fisher St address in Kingaroy about 2pm.

Sergeant Gangemi said the victim had been on the phone when she saw Lee walking down her driveway towards her.

The victim approached Lee and asked her to leave.

“(Lee) walked up and pushed (the victim) – there was a very short conversation between the two then the victim was punched four times. She was then punched once more,” Sergeant Gangemi said.

“She sustained bruising and swelling to her face.”

The breach of bail occurred between February 1 and 13 when she used Facebook to share a number of posts, breaching a condition ordering her not to use social media, but sergeant Gangemi said there was nothing untoward about the posts.

“She just said she didn't think she could use social media to contact the victim,“ he said.

Lee was represented by Mark Werner, who told the court the incident was entirely “out of character”.

He said the mother of three had not intentionally breached her bail.

“(It) had absolutely nothing to do with the complainants, she just used social media because she thought she could, but obviously it's her responsibility to comply with all of those conditions,” Mr Werner said.

He also told the court there was significant background that led up to the events of the assault.

The victim was Lee‘s stepsister’s friend, who Mr Werner told the court Lee saw as “an acquaintance”.

Tragically, her stepsister‘s partner had died in a quad biking accident while the victim’s partner was riding with him.

“The complainant got onto social media and said that it wasn't actually an accident that it was a suicide, which was upsetting,” Mr Werner said.

Mr Werner noted the coroner had found the death was an accident and that the post was made on the anniversary of the death.

He said Lee rang up the victim and was “invited around” to discuss the matter.

The court heard when Lee arrived at the victim's property, the victim was on the phone and allegedly said “oh the bitch is here”.

Mr Werner told the court Lee in her own words “just lost it”.

“There are some unique circumstances in all of this – there has obviously been some provocation here,” he said.

“The complainant did come out and confront her. There was some arguing and pushing.”

Mr Werner submitted a fine would be appropriate and asked no convictions be recorded as Lee had applied for a BlueCard which was pending on the court case, and also had employment secured so long as she received the BlueCard.

He also noted she had spent nearly eight hours in the watchouse following her arrest.

Magistrate Andrew Sinclair agreed with the submissions, citing her early plea, lack of criminal history and a number of character references that spoke highly of her.

“It seems, literally, in this case because of the circumstances you've allowed your temper to overcome you,” Magistrate Sinclair said.

“It is serious in the sense that people shouldn't go around assaulting one another. But in this case there was also no lasting damage or treatment indicated.”

Lee was fined $500, referred to SPER, for the assault charge.

For the charges of trespass and breaching bail, she was convicted and not further punished.

No convictions were recorded.

Magistrate Sinclair also ordered that 50 per cent of the fine be paid as a moiety to the victim.

Originally published as Young Kingaroy mother Amy Lee fined for punching acquaintance over Facebook post