Woman hit man in jaw Insult sparked street attack

A TOWNSVILLE woman punched a man in the jaw after he made a homophobic comment about her younger brother, a court has been told.

Jayde Louise Lewis, 25, was out on Flinders St when she attacked Samuel Stokes early on March 29.

She pleaded guilty to assault causing bodily harm in Townsville Magistrates Court yesterday.

Prosecutor Sergeant John Moran said Mr Stokes was in a carpark near Monsoon’s about 1.25am.

“Mr Stokes and his friends were approached by ( Lewis) who has yelled and sworn aggressively towards them,” he said.

Sgt Moran said Mr Stokes and a friend tried to defuse the situation.

“Without warning, ( Lewis) struck ( Mr Stokes’s friend) two times in the head,” he said. “( She) has begun pacing around the car before punching … Mr Stokes on the left side of his jaw.”

Mr Stokes bled from a split lip and approached nearby police.

Defence solicitor Phil Rennick said Lewis’s father died four years ago and, as her mother lived in Bamaga, she cared for her three siblings.

He said Lewis’s youngest brother had recently come out as gay.

“On the night, the complainant and one of the other blokes, who is a witness in this matter, had been calling him a f------ and other denigrating words,” he said.

“Miss Lewis, not only as an older sister, but as a person who’s cared for him for the last four years, took great offence. She acknowledges that it was an over- reaction.”

He said Lewis had a nine- year- old son and had worked in administration since finishing school.

Acting Magistrate Susie Warrington said the offensive language provided “some explanation” for Lewis’ behaviour.

“Although punching someone in the jaw is a serious offence, I note that the injuries were not serious injuries as a consequence, certainly there was no long- term injuries,” she said.

Lewis was sentenced to six months probation and ordered to pay $ 500 compensation to the victim.