Mothers face off in assault court case following the death of Jari Wise at Huonville last year
The mother of a young man who died at Huonville last year has denied punching the mother of his former girlfriend during an emotional court clash between families. LATEST >>
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- Huon Valley woman may stand trial for dangerous driving following the death of Jari Wise
- Fury erupts as Huon Valley woman Melissa Oates exits court amid more delays
THE mother of a young man who died at Huonville last year has denied punching the mother of his former girlfriend during an emotional court clash between families.
Tensions have been high between the two families since the death of Jari Wise, 26, in February last year.
Mr Wise died after he was struck by a car while walking along Wilmot Road at Huonville.
His former partner, 35-year-old Melissa Oates, has not been charged with causing Mr Wise’s death, however she faces dozens of other charges related to the incident, including a charge of dangerous driving that she may stand trial over this year in the Supreme Court.
On Thursday, Mr Wise’s mother Faith Tkalac faced the Hobart Magistrates Court after pleading not guilty to one count of common assault against Ms Oates’ mother Gail and one count of breaching a restraint order.
It was alleged that Ms Tkalac punched Gail Oates once in the right chest and shoulder area on July 27 last year in the entrance of the court.
Ms Tkalac denies that she assaulted Ms Oates, and that if force was indeed applied, it was not done so with intent.
Prosecutor Suzanne White told Magistrate Robert Webster that Ms Tkalac had been turned away from the court hearing due to COVID-19 number restrictions at the time.
She said that she then allegedly verbally and physically abused Ms Oates at the security entrance of the Magistrates Court.
“On seeing Ms Oates and her family, the defendant bangs on the glass and yells abuse at Ms Gail Oates. She calls Ms Oates a slut, a whore, and says ‘I’m going to get you’,” Ms White said.
“She abuses Ms Oates further by calling her a c … and telling her ‘you’re going to get it’.
“The defendant then assaults Ms Oates by striking her across the right chest and shoulder area. This causes redness to this area.”
Ms Oates, giving evidence from the witness box, said she’d taken out a restraining order against Ms Tkalac at the time.
“She told me I was nothing but a big fat slut and that my day was coming,” she said.
“That’s when she lunged and punched me in the chest.”
But defence lawyer Fabiano Cangelosi, argued that no contact between the women could be seen on CCTV footage from the day.
“The camera doesn’t lie, does it?” he said.
“She has been agitating that your daughter should be charged with a more serious offence?
“You have made the allegation of assault because you want to discourage her from doing so?”
Ms Oates denied Mr Cangelosi’s claim.
The hearing was adjourned to April 28.
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