‘Immature and irresponsible’ woman cut her ex-partner’s new girlfriend with a knife in public

A woman who yelled abuse at her ex partner from a car before cutting his new girlfriend with a knife in public has been labelled ‘immature and irresponsible’ by a judge while being sentenced.

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A JUDGE has labelled a Launceston woman who aggressively confronted her ex boyfriend in public with a knife before cutting his new girlfriend “immature and irresponsible”.

Krystal Lee Reynolds, 29, pleaded guilty to one count of wounding and was sentenced in the Supreme Court in Launceston on Friday.

Justice Michael Brett said her ex partner and his new 20-year-old girlfriend were standing in a group of people on a suburban street when Reynolds drove past several times yelling abuse.

“I infer that there was bad blood between you and your former partner and possibly the complainant,” he said.

Reynolds got out of her car carrying a knife and tried to aggressively confront her ex, but became involved in a physical fight with his new girlfriend when she stepped in.

The women pushed and punched each other until Reynolds swung the knife at the other woman, cutting her hand and upper left bicep and causing two small wounds.

The victim was treated at the hospital immediately, received stitches and required surgery on her ring finger to repair nerve damage.

Justice Brett said Reynolds’ counsel asserted she only intended to confront her ex, not start a physical fight.

Launceston Supreme Court.

“You concede that you took the knife with you when you left the car and agree that this was an unwise and foolish decision.”

Justice Brett said the complainant had provided an impact statement detailing her ongoing physical and psychological injuries.

“I have no doubt that this would have been a frightening and traumatic experience,” he said.

Justice Brett said driving up and down the street yelling abuse and getting out of the car to engage in an aggressive confrontation was “immature and irresponsible”.

“Your crime is aggravated by the fact that it was committed in public,” he said

“Violence of this nature, particularly when it involves the use of a weapon, has no place in our community.”

Justice Brett said Reynolds was the sole carer of her nine-year-old son, who had a high degree of emotional dependence on her and would find long term separation traumatic.

He convicted Reynolds and sentenced her to a wholly suspended prison term of nine months.

“I have taken into account your general background and limited criminal history and have concluded that the suspended sentence will effectively deter you from engaging in this kind of stupidity in the future and will thereby achieve the goal of rehabilitation.”