Woman hit cyclist with baseball bat

A woman from Bunnythorpe should have been celebrating her 18th birthday yesterday, but instead spent a good chunk of it in Palmerston North District Court.

Kelly Maree Jillings was in court on charges of common assault and possession of a weapon, after an attack on a woman last year that ended in the Asian victim being racially abused.

On September 18, about 2pm, Jillings was in her car in Park Rd in Palmerston North with three other people, including her brother.

The victim rode past on a bicycle when someone in the car threw rubbish out of the window at her.

She approached the car to ask why they had thrown the rubbish.

Jillings took a baseball bat from the foot-well of the car and approached the woman.

Words were exchanged before Jillings hit the victim in the head with the bat, causing her to fall and cut her left elbow.

Jillings then grabbed the victim and punched her in the face before racially abusing her.

Because of her injuries, which included cuts on her elbow, a sprained back and swelling to her face, the victim missed two days' work.

Defence lawyer Mike Ryan said Jillings did not throw the rubbish, and the victim had reacted aggressively by kicking a door of the car.

Judge Gregory Ross said it was unusual for a baseball bat to be in a car.

He asked Jillings if she played baseball, to try to establish why she had the bat.

"What other purpose do young people carry these things round in their car for, other than a weapon for self-defence?"

Jillings did not answer.

Judge Ross said it was understandable she was angry if her car door was kicked, but it should have been settled without violence.

The fact the situation was one person against four "might be a case of bullying by numbers", he said.

"If you think [what you did] is right, then I have to tell you – you're wrong."

He ordered Jillings to pay $400 emotional reparation, $77.99 economic reparation and court costs.

She was also required to do six months' supervision and undergo counselling.

The bat would be destroyed.

- © Fairfax NZ News