Eye-stabber’s new charges
Sentenced for smashing partner’s Xbox
A TASMANIAN woman who previously stabbed an acquaintance multiple times with a steak knife, including to her eye, has been sentenced on two additional, unrelated charges.
South Hobart woman Emma-Lisa Eronen, 34, a single mother of four, pleaded guilty in the Hobart Magistrates Court on Friday to charges of destroying property and breaching a bail condition.
The court heard the substantive charge, destroying property, occurred at her residence on April 9 last year.
Eronen, who was pregnant at the time, had spent the day drinking and consuming cannabis, and became engaged in an argument with her partner about 10pm.
Her partner said he would “move out tomorrow” and began stacking items including his Xbox console and television as he waited for a taxi, the court heard.
Eronen took items, including the Xbox console, on to the property’s balcony and threw them on to the concrete driveway, smashing them.
At the time of the current matter, Eronen was subject to a one-month suspended sen
tence for destroying property. That previous offence occurred on February 7, 2020, at a friend’s residence.
The pair had been drinking alcohol together when Eronen misplaced her keys as she made to leave.
The court heard Eronen flew into a rage, smashing a lamp and mirror, and launching a pot plant into a glass sliding door.
The court was told Eronen is currently subject to an 18month home detention order, imposed on October 7 last year, after being convicted of committing an unlawful act intended to cause grievous bodily harm.
That offence occurred in March 2020 at Eronen’s prior address at South Launceston.
Eronen’s victim had been living with her for a short period of time and both women were “substantially affected” by alcohol.
Eronen’s victim suggested the defendant have sex with a drug dealer to obtain drugs, a suggestion that made Eronen “uncomfortable”.
An argument between the pair became heated, and Justice Robert Pearce said on passing sentence Eronen was justified in seeking to have her friend exit the property.
However, Eronen “took a steak knife and struck her repeatedly with it to the back of her head and body”, Justice Pearce said.
“As she turned towards you, you continued to stab at her, striking her eye, chest and arm,” he said.
Eronen’s defence lawyer told the court on Friday her client had a prejudicial upbringing, which had resulted in diagnoses of depression, anxiety and complex PTSD.
She said her client was undergoing probation and community service as part of her home detention order, and wanted to enrol in TAFE.
Magistrate Chris Webster fined Eronen $300, ordered her to pay costs and levies, and extended her home detention order by one month.