The daughter of a man who had part of his ear bitten off during a fight was scared to hug him because of the grotesque injury, a court has heard. The man’s victim impact statement also told of his fears while sitting in the emergency department of Canberra Hospital awaiting the results of a HIV test because his attacker was a drug user. The statement was read out at the ACT Supreme Court sentencing hearing of Sharlene Marie Martin, 30, on Friday. Martin pleaded guilty to recklessly inflicting grievous bodily harm after the attack outside a Harrison home in March. The court heard the man, who had an acrimonious association with one of Martin’s friends, had been involved in a fight at a birthday party. Martin then jumped on the man and punched and kicked him before biting part of his ear lobe off while saying “I f---ing told you I'd get you". The court heard the torn off section had not been reattached and the man still experienced embarrassment and pain from the injury. But Martin could not remember the incident because she had consumed alcohol and drugs prior to the attack. Martin, in the witness stand, said she had been binge drinking and using drugs daily at the time to cope with a relationship break up and a failed attempt to reconnect with her father. She said she had no ill feelings towards the victim and did not know why she said she would get him. When asked what she would say to the victim if she were allowed to contact him, she answered: “Extend my deepest apologies.” “Under no circumstances did he deserve that kind of treatment.” A presentence report rated Martin a high risk of reoffending. But the report author said that risk could be reduced by undertaking drug and alcohol counseling and attending anger management sessions. The court heard Martin was in custody after last month testing positive to cannabis, in breach of her strict bail conditions. Her barrister, Anthony Hopkins, said the offence warranted a jail sentence. But he said the question was how the punishment would be served and in what form. Mr Hopkins argued his client’s remorse and attempts at betterment made her eligible for weekend detention. But the Crown said weekend detention did not reflect the seriousness of the crime. The prosecutor argued full-time custody could assist Martin’s rehabilitation, as she had reported the structure of prison life had helped motivate her. Acting Chief Justice Richard Refshauge will hand down sentence next week.
The daughter of a man who had part of his ear bitten off during a fight was scared to hug him because of the grotesque injury, a court has heard.
The man’s victim impact statement also told of his fears while sitting in the emergency department of Canberra Hospital awaiting the results of a HIV test because his attacker was a drug user.
The statement was read out at the ACT Supreme Court sentencing hearing of Sharlene Marie Martin, 30, on Friday.
Martin pleaded guilty to recklessly inflicting grievous bodily harm after the attack outside a Harrison home in March.
The court heard the man, who had an acrimonious association with one of Martin’s friends, had been involved in a fight at a birthday party.
Martin then jumped on the man and punched and kicked him before biting part of his ear lobe off while saying “I f---ing told you I'd get you".
The court heard the torn off section had not been reattached and the man still experienced embarrassment and pain from the injury.
But Martin could not remember the incident because she had consumed alcohol and drugs prior to the attack.
Martin, in the witness stand, said she had been binge drinking and using drugs daily at the time to cope with a relationship break up and a failed attempt to reconnect with her father.
She said she had no ill feelings towards the victim and did not know why she said she would get him.
When asked what she would say to the victim if she were allowed to contact him, she answered: “Extend my deepest apologies.” “Under no circumstances did he deserve that kind of treatment.”
A presentence report rated Martin a high risk of reoffending.
But the report author said that risk could be reduced by undertaking drug and alcohol counseling and attending anger management sessions.
The court heard Martin was in custody after last month testing positive to cannabis, in breach of her strict bail conditions.
Her barrister, Anthony Hopkins, said the offence warranted a jail sentence.
But he said the question was how the punishment would be served and in what form.
Mr Hopkins argued his client’s remorse and attempts at betterment made her eligible for weekend detention.
But the Crown said weekend detention did not reflect the seriousness of the crime.
The prosecutor argued full-time custody could assist Martin’s rehabilitation, as she had reported the structure of prison life had helped motivate her.
Acting Chief Justice Richard Refshauge will hand down sentence next week.
