‘You just can’t do that stuff’: Woman avoids prison for taking machete to a fight
A young woman who used a machete to slash a mother’s shoulder during a brawl has been warned by a judge never to repeat such “extremely dangerous” offending.
File Photo:(AAP Image/Darren England)
Shard’e Shanikwa Austin, 22, pleaded guilty in Brisbane District Court on Monday to one count each of common assault and grievous bodily harm.
Crown prosecutor Carla Ahern said a mother had been fighting with her daughter, who had been caught with cannabis, on the front lawn of Austin’s home at Acacia Ridge in Brisbane’s south on December 19, 2022.
“The defendant approached the (mother) with a machete and struck her on the shoulder. She sustained injuries but fortunately only required sutures (for) a 10-centimetre laceration to the shoulder,” Ms Ahern said.
Judge Nathan Jarro was shown mobile phone videos taken by witnesses of the brawl that captured Austin yelling and swearing at the victim.
“You think I won’t hurt you?” Austin said in the video as she moved towards the victim while armed with the machete.
Ms Ahern said the mother’s victim impact statement showed the attack was a terrifying experience that had lasting effects on her.
Defence barrister Emma Thorsen said Austin had been under the influence of drugs at the time and was living in a backyard shed.
“This did not occur in a vacuum. The (mother) attended the defendant’s address and engaged in a distressing confrontation with her daughter. She had tried to separate the two with no violence or weapons,” Ms Thorsen said.
She said Austin had an abusive childhood but had completed courses while on remand and had an offer of employment.
Judge Jarro said Austin needed to face supervision and deterrence for her “extremely dangerous conduct”.
“You just can’t do that sort of stuff, arming yourself with a machete and causing serious injury,” he said.
Judge Jarro sentenced Austin to three years’ imprisonment but ordered her released immediately on parole after spending nine-and-a-half months in custody.
“If you put one foot out of line your parole will be cancelled and you will go back to prison,” he said.