Woman, 21, stabbed her cousin

A WOMAN stabbed her second cousin in the back of the head with a knife during a drunken brawl on Palm Island, a Townsville Court has heard.

Shaneka Faith Fullerton, 21, was sentenced in Townsville District Court yesterday for one count of unlawful wounding.

She was released on parole with Judge Greg Lynham taking into account 107 days already spent in custody before sentencing.

The court heard Fullerton was celebrating Easter Sunday with family on March 27, 2016 at Palm Island.

Her brothers told her to bash a woman at the gathering, her second cousin, and the pair started fighting.

When the woman stopped to tie up her hair, Fullerton stabbed her in the back of the head before running away.

The woman sustained a 3cm long and 2cm deep gash with four staples needed to close the wound.

A victim impact statement tendered to the court said that while the pair were now friends again, she had suffered pain and she had not wanted to leave her house after the attack.

Defence Barrister Ted Bassett said his client had issues with alcohol which she was now trying to address.

“Sadly, as so often has happened, she began drinking to excess when she was 15 years old,” he said.

“I’m instructed her offending was in relation to her being under the influence of alcohol. She is now living with her grandmother in Townsville and her grandmother does not drink.”

Judge Lynham said alcohol and knives could be a lethal combination.

He said he spared Fullerton from serving more jail time as she was addressing her alcohol issues.

“Regrettably the use of knives on Palm Island is all to prevalent,” Judge Lynham said. “It seems that when people, particularly affected by alcohol, on Palm Island wish to sort out a grievance they arm themselves with a knife much too often.

“Certainly the experience of these courts is often the victim is someone who is close to or on good terms with the person who uses the knife.”