Dreams taken away

IMPACT Attacker jailed for ‘reckless’ glassing

AN “impulsive and unjustifiable” attack has left a southern Tasmanian woman blind in one eye and disfigured for life.

Liv Knapek, 20, was at a barbecue at Honeywood on grand final eve last year when Emilia Olive Harwood, 23, of Bellerive, struck her to the face with a glass.

Harwood was found guilty by a jury following a trial in September, and was sentenced in the Supreme Court in Hobart on Monday.

Ms Knapek’s mother, Maria Knapek, said the attack had a huge impact on her daughter.

She said Liv was considering a career in the Navy, or starting her own fashion design business, and was also considering modelling.

“People would stop her and say, ‘ you should be a model’,” Mrs Knapek said.

“People were drawn to her. She’d just accepted what everyone else was telling her and was looking into it [modelling].”

But Mrs Knapek said Liv’s dreams had been taken from her.

“We don’t know what the future holds for her,” she said.

Mrs Knapek said Liv’s mental health had also declined.

“She was quite happy in life before [the attack],” Mrs Knapek said.

“She’s not social anymore … her mental health has declined. It has affected her in a huge way.”

Mrs Knapek said she also had to have therapy after Liv was attacked.

“I just bawl at the drop of a hat,” she said.

Justice Gregory Geason sentenced Harwood to 12 months’ jail, with the last nine months suspended for three years.

He also ordered she perform 80 hours of community service and be subject to a probation order upon her release.

In his sentencing remarks to Harwood on Monday, Justice Geason said the glassing was an “impulsive and unjustifiable” and “reckless” action, and there was “nothing to jus-

She’s not social anymore … her mental health has declined

— MARIA KNAPEK

tify the extent of your response”.

Justice Geason said Liv faced an uncertain future and would have to learn to drive again.

“She was skilled in makeup but she has given up on that because it’s more difficult with sight only in one eye,” he said.

“She will have to learn to drive again … [She] fears that as she ages she will go completely blind.”

Justice Geason said his sentence was informed by a psychological report.

He also said he accepted that Harwood was remorseful, that it was unlikely she would reoffend and that she had not intended for her victim to lose an eye.

Harwood was shaking as she was taken into custody.