Woman who glassed sister-in-law at wedding says it was accidental

A woman has defended her actions after glassing her sister-in-law during a heated argument. Her lawyer said she only meant to throw wine on her relative – which isn’t dangerous. READ THE DEFENCE >>

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A CENTRELINK employee who glassed her sister-in-law at a wedding says she only intended to throw wine over – not injure – her nemesis.

Emma-Kate Gray, 45, has pleaded guilty to assault following the incident.

The two women, described as having a “volatile relationship”, were engaged in a heated argument when the victim threw the contents of her wine glass over Gray.

Gray reacted by throwing wine back at the woman, but accidentally struck her cheek with the glass.

The Supreme Court of Tasmania heard on Monday that Gray didn’t foresee or intend to cause the woman any injuries.

But Gray’s lawyer Jessica Sawyer also argued the injuries were completely unforeseeable.

“At that time, she didn’t have any idea about the extent of the injuries,” Ms Sawyer said.

“It was not a reasonably foreseeable injury.”

She argued that Gray was only responsible for throwing the wine, not striking the victim with the glass.

“My submission is that throwing the contents of a glass is not an inherently dangerous activity,” she said.

“A reasonable person would not foresee a strike to the face, much less the injury that was sustained from that.”

But Justice Michael Brett wasn’t convinced.

“It’s entirely foreseeable isn’t it?” he said.

“Your client’s pleading guilty to an assault.

“I can accept it was unintended, I can accept it was unforeseen – but how can you argue it was unforeseeable?”

The Crown accepts Gray didn’t intend or foresee the injuries, but claims the injuries were foreseeable.

Justice Brett said he intended to sentence Gray to a community service order.

Gray, who is on bail, will return to court on September 17 for sentence.

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