Woman given choice of ‘punishment’

Press, 1 November 1984, Page 14

Woman given choice of ‘punishment’

A “protracted” assault by Donna Maree Dixon on a young separated woman she knew led to the complainant receiving treatment in hospital for four days, according to evidence sven in the District Court yesterday. Evidence was that Dixon, aged 18, a labourer, punched and kicked the complainant, Penelope Frances Savage, aged 26, during, an assault which continued for an hour or more, and tried to strangle Mrs Savage and gave her the “choice” of being strangled or punched in the face. The defendant denied a charge of assaulting Mrs Savage with intent to injure her but was convicted by Judge . Bradford and remanded in custody to November 7 for sentence. Her counsel (Mr K. J. Grave) said at the start of the hearing that the assault was readily admitted but the defendant denied an intention to cause injury. Sergeant A. T. Smith prosecuted. Mrs Savage gave evidence of seeing the defendant in Christchurch on the evening of October 14 and then being assaulted by her on the riverbank in Worcester Street. The defendant had punched her in the face and pulled her to the ground, and told her she had the

choice of being punched to death or strangled to death. The defendant told the witness that she was not looking. after her son properly, and was told it was none of her business. She punched the witness again and tried to strangle her, and threw her to the ground and jumped on her. The defendant pinned Mrs Savage’s / arms on the ground, while continuing to grip her throat She gave her the choice of being strangled or punched in the face. Mrs Savage said that she would rather be punched, and the defendant punched her again. After further assaults she could not see because of the injuries to • her face and about her eyes; The defendant then made Mrs Savage walk towards the Bridge of Remembrance, and pushed her down the stairs, and left her near the Central Police Station, telling her to “tell the police everything.” Mrs Savage said the defendant had accused her of. not looking after her (witness’s) child properly. Mrs Savage said her son was nbw in the care of the Social Welfare Department because her husband had fed him alcohol with bis milk.

The defendant had also accused Mrs Savage of

smoking cannabis around her son. She had denied this and told the defendant her former husband had done this. Cross-examined, Mrs Savage said her injuries included a fractured nose, facial injuries, and bruising. Constable G. J. Cameron , gave evidence of interview-■■ ing the defendant, who, in a. written statement, allegedly said that .she had gone into,; the city to find Mrs Savage : because of what she had. done three weeks before tofriends of hers. She detailed the assault,;, saying she punched and kicked Mrs Savage in the face and tried to strangle’ her. “I must have been hitting; her for an hour or more,” her statement said. c The constable said that, during the interview thedefendant showed no sign of having regretted the inci-; dent, and seemed to enjoy; telling her what she had. done. ■ ' - . Mr Grave called no det’ fence evidence and made nd submissions. The Judge said the as-r sault had been a particu-, larly prolonged one, leadings to the complainant’s being-, in hospital for four days.; The evidence established beji yond reasonable doubt that , the defendant intended to; injure Mrs Savage.