via SMH
Two women involved in a nightclub assault on another woman have been ordered to create a Facebook page warning others against violence.
Magistrate Greg Connellan handed down the order to Asha Goodchild and Jenna Barker, both 22, who escaped a conviction, this month at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court.
Ms Barker pleaded guilty to recklessly causing injury and childcare worker Ms Goodchild pleaded guilty to assault by kicking.
The victim, a woman in her 20s, suffered bruises to the face, chest and body in the fight at the Wheelers Hill Hotel in March 20 last year.
Ms Barker, Ms Goodchild and another woman came up with the Facebook page after Mr Connellan asked them to put their heads together and “do something” over time.
The women must promote the pages at nightclubs and other youth venues and “encourage young people to share the negative impact that violence and alcohol has on their lives and the benefits of avoiding escalation”.
Ms Barker said she understood victims could see the punishment as trivial. “I can understand people would be upset we’ve got a slap on the wrist, you know, a Facebook page.
“But the judge was very different. He was trying to think of ways we could help other people.”
Mr Connellan said the three women were “no doubt … otherwise of good characters but are part of a growing trend that the court sees of young women using violence in public bars”.
The court heard the fight was triggered after an unknown man bumped Ms Goodchild near the crowded bar.
A woman then pushed Ms Barker in the chest. Ms Baker grabbed the victim by the hair and both fell to the ground and exchanged punches.
Ms Goodchild kicked the victim in the chest and stomach before security broke up the fight.
When Ms Barker bumped into the victim in the bathroom, she punched her.
Evidence of the Facebook page, which has been tentatively dubbed Walk Away, must be presented to the court by January 27.
The case was adjourned until February 10 next year.
Attorney-General Robert Clark said he couldn’t comment on specific cases but the Government was committed to giving courts power to impose tougher and more effective conditions on community-based sentences.
“For the first time, courts will have explicit authority to impose conditions that target the offender and the offence, such as taking away the driving licence of a thug found guilty of road-rage, or imposing curfews and no-go zones,” he said.
