Stolen watch in court
Lawyer saw woman wearing his stolen item
AFTER being the victim of a break and enter of his South Toowoomba home, a high profile Toowoomba lawyer was soon back in possession of some of the property stolen after a woman attended court, seeking his legal advice, wearing his $1700 watch.
Between 7am and 5.45pm on April 21, 2022, an unknown number of offenders forcibly entered the South Toowoomba home of MacDonald Law director Jag MacDonald, where a number of items were stolen including a distinctive $1700 watch, Toowoomba Magistrates Court was told.
About 10.30am on April 26 Mr MacDonald was at Toowoomba Courthouse acting as duty lawyer when Tina Kathleen Hazard, who was due to appear on drug and property offences, attended an interview to speak to him when he noticed she was wearing his watch.
“Mr MacDonald recused himself and reported the matter to police, who attended the courthouse and spoke to the defendant,” police prosecutor Senior Constable Chris Willson said.
“(Hazard) stated that she was staying with a friend, and that she had located the watch on a kitchen bench. She did not know the owner of the watch, and had not seen it previously, but she liked it so put it on to wear to court.”
The court was told earlier in the year on January 10 between 7am and 4pm a number of people broke into a Newtown residence, where items were stolen including three video game consoles, headphones, speakers and a katana sword.
Senior Constable Willson said CCTV and fingerprint evidence placed Hazard at the scene as one of the people involved in the break and enter.
In total Hazard, 35, pleaded guilty to 14 drug and property offences in Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Friday, including entering a dwelling and committing an indictable offence, receiving tainted property, possessing dangerous drugs and stealing.
Hazard’s solicitor Brad Skuse said his client intended to relocate to Goondiwindi to live and care for her mother, who suffers from a number of medical conditions.
Magistrate Kay Philipson sentenced Hazard to 12 months behind bars, but noting she had spent 40 days in custody made her immediately eligible for parole.