Toowoomba court: Krystal May Laurie pleads guilty to bloody attack on New Year's Day 2023

An incident involving a New Year’s Eve party and a six-month-old baby sparked a brutal and violent attack that left a young Toowoomba woman unconscious and bleeding on her bedroom floor.

Krystal May Laurie leaving the Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Wednesday morning, June 28, 2023, after pleading guilty to assault OBH. Picture: Regional Media

A young Toowoomba woman pleaded guilty to a brutal act of relentless violence on New Year’s Day which left a woman unconscious and bleeding on her bedroom floor.

At the Toowoomba Magistrates court on Thursday, June 28, Krystal May Laurie pleaded guilty to assault causing bodily harm, however her sentence was cut short due to the serious nature of the crime.

Police prosecutor Natalie Bugden said the incident that sparked the assault was relevant to the case, and read the facts into the record.

The court heard Laurie was at a New Year’s Eve party a day prior to the assault, where her friend, Kristin Dawes, left her crying newborn with a stranger and the woman who was assaulted.

The victim quarreled with Ms Dawes over the care, or lack thereof, of her child.

Sergeant Bugden said during the NYE party at Wilsonton, Ms Dawes left the crying six-month-old boy with a man unknown to her, and the victim who was too intoxicated to look after the child.

However, the court heard the baby was so unsettled, the victim called Ms Dawes about five to 10 minutes later and asked her to retrieve the child.

Sergeant Bugden said the victim received the following message on New Year’s Day from Ms Dawes – who did not assault the victim.

“I’m going to give (your) address to the person who wants it just for the sheer way they spoke down to me. No one hurt my kid yeah? But they disrespected me. I pulled a f---k up ‘cause my mates are always wanting some fun, and you can screenshot it and take it back to your police informing mate… but it won’t end well for any of you.”

Krystal May Laurie leaving the Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Wednesday morning, June 28, 2023, after pleading guilty to assault OBH. Picture: Regional Media

Sergeant Bugden said that night the offender, Laurie, went to the victim’s house, as did Ms Dawes, her sister, and another woman.

She said the victim initially let the sisters in, and quickly left to get clothing from her bedroom as she was home alone and sleeping naked.

After the sisters confronted the victim in her room, Sergeant Bugden said Laurie entered and said, “you want to fight” before grabbing the victim by the hair and raining down blows to her head and face.

“She’s then dragged the victim by her hair off the bed,” she said.

“She then straddled the victim who was lying on her back on the floor and repeatedly punched into the victim’s body and head.

“Stop it, stop it,” the victim pleaded repeatedly, the court was told.

However, Sergeant Bugden said Laurie continued to beat the victim with her fists until she lost consciousness.

Magistrate Louise Shephard put a stop to the sentence because it was too serious to be dealt with during an arrest court sitting – as there is only a limited amount of time allocated to matters before that particular courtroom.

“Just stop there,” the magistrate told Sergeant Bugden.

Krystal May Laurie will be back at Toowoomba Court on July 19 to be sentenced for beating a woman unconscious. Picture: Peta McEachern

“This is not an arrests court matter. She’s entered the house (allegedly) without consent and assaulted her to the point where the victim has lost consciousness.

“This is a serious assault occasioning bodily harm despite the fact she has no (criminal) history.

“I am not dealing with this.

“I don’t consider myself seized of it - we will start de novo.”

Ms Shephard said she took the woman’s guilty plea to the one charge of assault occasioning bodily harm, but the sentence would be passed down on July 19.

She also asked for comparative reports (similar past cases) to be tabled in the next sitting.

When Laurie pleaded guilty to the assault at court on June 28, she had a number of charges thrown out.

Police prosecution discontinued the following alleged charges; assault while armed in company, entering a dwelling with intent while in company, stealing, and wilful damage.

The court did not hear any submissions from Laurie’s lawyer, solicitor Phil Stainton.

The court heard Laurie and the victim used to work together at the Toowoomba Laundromat.