Court shown video of sickening attack
A TEENAGE girl cowered in a foetal position as two girls stood over her, repeatedly kicking the 15-year-old in the head and chest.
Thuds of their sneakers striking the vulnerable young girl could be heard as the two older girls screamed obscenities at their victim.
The sickening scenes of the horrific attack on May 13 last year, recorded on a mobile phone, were played in the Southport District Court yesterday.
In the background of the footage, Gold Coast signs, prominent during the Commonwealth Games, is seen at a Burleigh Heads bus stop.
Before Tayla Grundy leaves, she stomps on the head of the young girl and then runs off.
Onlookers watch the beating, but no-one steps in.
All three girls knew each other from school. There was no clear motivation for the the attack.
The main attacker, 18year-old Grundy, walked from court yesterday with a two-year probation order after she pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm and stealing.
The Mermaid Waters teen was freed despite her poor performance on another probation order which saw her skipping reporting dates and showing a “significant propensity of violence towards younger females”.
Judge Katherine McGinness warned Grundy if she breached probation it was likely she would go to prison.
“It was nasty, prolonged, gratuitous violence upon someone who had done nothing to deserve your actions,” she said.
“You were apparently intoxicated and that was no excuse for your behaviour.
“You are fortunate the complainant did not suffer any harm.”
Ms McGinness said she had read a victim impact statement written by the young victim’s mother.
“(The girl) has developed a fear of being in public places without people she feels safe with and she suffers anxiety and panic attacks,” she said.
Prosecutor Isabelle Quinn said it was the first time Grundy had offended as an adult. Her 18th birthday was just nine days before the attack.
“The attack on the complainant was unprovoked and the complainant was taken by surprise,” she said.
“The offending involved was particularly vicious and dangerous, and (involved) punching the complainant in the back of the head.
“This level of violence used on a young person at night is of great concern to the community.”
Ms Quinn said Grundy’s co-accused, a 17-year-old girl, had been sentenced in the Children’s Court to nine months probation this year. She cannot be named for legal reasons.
Grundy’s barrister James McNab said his client had sent apology text messages to the young victim.
“It was quite heartfelt and raw,the text messages,” he said.
Mr McNab said Grundy was intoxicated at the time of the attack.
“The footage is disturbing to watch,” he said.
“I’m instructed there was no planning, the offence was spur of the moment.”
Grundy did not comment as she left the courthouse.