Woman ordered to pay 14-year-old girl after assault in Woolworths Katanning

A 32-year-old woman has been ordered to pay $800 to a 14-year-old girl she punched in the head during a fight at a Katanning supermarket. CCTV footage captured Annette Marie Winmar using her right fist to the hit the girl in the side of the face in the dairy section of Clive Street’s Woolworths on April 10, the Katanning Magistrate’s Court was told last Friday. Winmar’s victim had been standing with her grandmother at the time. The 32-year-old pleaded guilty to aggravated common assault during Friday’s hearing. Police prosecutor Sergeant Alan Dean told the court there had been a dispute in the store before Winmar hit the teenager. Janie Gibbs — Winmar’s defence counsel — said Winmar had been drawn to the dairy section because she heard her sister and the 14-year-old’s grandmother arguing. Winmar thought the teenager was trying to intervene, according to Ms Gibbs. For a “brief few seconds” Winmar believed her victim was about 17, Ms Gibbs said. Sgt Dean admitted the punch was “not a typical assault”, telling the court that Winmar was not targeting her victim. He suggested to Magistrate Raelene Johnston a fine would be appropriate. Ms Johnston accepted that it was not Winmar’s intention “to go out and hurt anyone” before ordering her to pay $800 to her victim.