A MOTHER who was fined $1000 for starting a brawl with her son’s partner’s mother told Mandurah Magistrates Court she just “snapped”.
Juliette Therese Barker pleaded guilty today to assault occasioning bodily harm.
Police Prosecutor Constable Sean Discombe said the 52-year-old visited her son’s partner’s mother’s home in Falcon on October 30, 2017 with intent to talk to her about an issue that occurred between their children who were in a relationship.
Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE
Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.
READ NOWBarker went to fetch the woman from the shed to have a private word outside.
Barker and the woman were talking until Barker threw a punch at the woman, causing her head to snap backwards.
The two women continued to have a “brawl” where more punches were thrown until they were both separated and Barker fled the scene.
Both women went to Peel Health Campus.
The victim sustained bruising, cuts and lacerations to her left cheek.
Duty lawyer Clare Hay said Barker accepted she threw the first punch but it was “a brawl where punches were thrown by both parties”.
Ms Hay said Barker’s son was in a relationship with the victim’s daughter for 10 years but animosity was present between Barker’s son and his partner.
Ms Hay said Barker went around to the victims home to talk but she “snapped”.
Barker said she also received an injury from the incident which left her with 240 stitches, unable to work or lift.
Magistrate Anne Longden said Barker had committed a serious charge because she caused bodily harm and she was the first to punch.
Ms Longden said it was “fairly ridiculous” Barker used violence when she had gone around to the victim’s house to just talk.
She said the incident was out of character for Barker who was “overcome with frustration” at the time.
Barker was fined $1000 payable to the victim.
MORE: Construction of Yanchep rail extension likely to begin late 2019
MORE: Homestead 4 Youth helps man turn his life around after meth addiction