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A Supreme Court judge thanks to sentence a woman for attacking a prosecutor in court docket has been asked to contemplate that she has submit traumatic tension dysfunction (PTSD).
Rachael Vanessa Bradford, 42, pleaded guilty to contempt of courtroom after striking the prosecutor on the head and back again and pulling her hair.
The attack happened when the Courtroom of Felony Appeal additional at least a 12 months to the phrases of a few armed robbers, a single of whom was Bradford’s son, on November four.
Defence attorney Greg Barns informed Justice Helen Wood his customer approved she experienced been in the improper.
The court read Bradford’s other son had been shot when he was fifteen and she had skilled submit traumatic tension disorder as a end result.
Mr Barns said Bradford was a lot more inclined to anger because of her PTSD signs.
“This history of occasions has, if I can use the expression, unhinged my consumer,” he told the courtroom.
Director of Community Prosecutions Daryl Coates accepted Bradford was much more susceptible to anger, but informed the court docket he did not settle for that she turned out of the blue enraged when her son’s sentence was enhanced.
“Presented this was a crown attraction from sentence, the accused had to at least be aware of the chance that the sentence could be elevated,” he said.
He asked Justice Wooden to consider common deterrence when sentencing, expressing the court could not operate in mayhem.
“Justice cannot be completed if men and women do not truly feel secure,” Mr Coates explained.
Mr Barnes asked for Bradford’s time previously spent in custody be regarded as.
Bradford will be sentenced on Friday.
Topics: law-crime-and-justice, courts-and-trials, mental-wellness, hobart-7000
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