May 13, 2014
A man convicted of a “cowardly” assault on a woman at a Goomeri hotel on April 1 was sentenced to three months’ jail when he appeared in Murgon Magistrates Court today.
Dion James Curd, 32, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm.
Police prosecutor Sgt Pepe Gangemi said Curd had been walking out of the bar when he turned, went back and grabbed the woman, spilling her drink. During the ensuing struggle, her coat became twisted around her throat which caused her problems breathing.
Magistrate Mark Bucknall said the assault was a cowardly attack on a woman peacefully going about her business in the hotel.
“People who go about assaulting others, particularly women, must have an expectation that they will go to jail.”
He ordered that the jail sentence be suspended for two years. A conviction was recorded.
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A woman with schizophrenia charged with begging in Lamb Street, Murgon, was allocated just $140 a week by the Public Trustee, Murgon Magistrates Court was told.
Solicitor Mark Oliver said the woman, who has children aged from 3 to 18 years of age, could not cope with this amount of money and had been forced to beg to feed herself.
Magistrate Mark Bucknall said fining the woman would only compound her problems. He convicted her and imposed no further penalty.
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A “recidivist offender” involved in a break-in at a skirmish centre on the Sunshine Coast during which a number of paintball guns and other equipment were stolen will serve 12 months in jail.
Rory Staniland, 22, had an “atrocious history”, Magistrate Mark Bucknall said.
Police prosecutor Sgt Gangemi said the break-in on January 20 occurred while Staniland was serving an Intensive Correction Order for other offences.
Magistrate Bucknall also queried the address that Staniland offered to the court – 65 Hivesville Road, Hivesville – saying that four different matters had also quoted this address which was subject to an upcoming Queensland Civil and Administrative tribunal hearing.
Mr Bucknall said Staniland had three pages of criminal history with many entries relating to dishonesty.
“You are a recidivist offender. You’ve been given various opportunities by the court … and failed to comply,” Mr Bucknall said.
“A strong deterrent needs to be sent to you and others.”
He sentenced Staniland to two years jail, and fixed a parole release date of May 10, 2015.
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A woman facing a fraud charge laid after a police investigation at Wondai Kindergarten has hired new solicitors and requested another adjournment.
Amanda Evans, also known as Amanda Magee, has been charged with dishonestly obtaining property.
There was some confusion in Murgon Magistrates Court today with duty solicitor Caroline Cavanagh believing she was representing Evans / Magee before a letter to the court from another legal firm was produced.
Cavanagh said a brief of evidence had been given to her former client.
Magistrate Mark Bucknall excused Evans’ appearance and adjourned the matter to June 17.
