Judge throws out assault charge| child slapped

Eric Frei · 10th May 2010, 09:20 PM

Here's the story.

Mum jailed for slapping drunk daughter, 16 | Herald Sun

Quote:

IT was bad enough when Colleen Gudmann learned police had found her drunken 16-year-old daughter trying to use fake ID to get into a pub.

IT was bad enough when Colleen Gudmann learned police had found her drunken 16-year-old daughter trying to use fake ID to get into a pub.

But when the hairdresser went to the station to collect her, things quickly got worse.

By night's end, it was Ms Gudmann who was locked up on an assault charge and facing a police AVO - all for exercising what she says was normal parental discipline.

Police arrested her after she argued with her daughter Victoria, who lashed out at her mother, calling her a bitch.

Ms Gudmann says she did what most parents would in her situation: she gave Victoria a small slap on the cheek to pull her into line.

"The next thing I know, the policewoman yelled at me to 'Get out, go!' They took me to a room and said they were charging me with assault and were taking out an AVO against me," a still-shocked Ms Gudmann, who lives in Northbridge, Sydney, said.

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"I said, 'Are you joking?' I couldn't believe it, but they said it was on CCTV and they had to charge me.

"I had to empty my handbag, they fingerprinted me, put me under these big spotlights and took my photo. It was absolutely horrible.

"I had to sit there until 5am waiting for the AVO to come through, so even though we live together, Victoria wasn't allowed to be released into my custody.

"The whole thing just got blown completely out of proportion. I still can't believe it happened."

The November 6 drama was the first time Ms Gudmann had set foot in a police station.

Two weeks later, she experienced another first, fronting Hornsby Local Court as a defendant - on Domestic Violence Day - while Victoria, a Year 11 student at Killarney Heights High School, was questioned by social workers about whether she feared for her safety.

Magistrate Lesley Brennan dismissed the case under Section 10 of the Crimes Act, recording no conviction.

"The magistrate said, 'This is just a parent exercising their right to be a parent - this is absolutely ludicrous', " Ms Gudmann said. "When we walked out of the court, Victoria just broke down and cried.

"She understood the severity of the situation. She was grounded for the month, but it was the stress of my life.

"I'm not a bad person, but I can think of only three times in her whole life when I've hit Victoria if she was naughty."

Victoria added: "It was nothing - it was really nothing at all. I was like, 'What's the big deal?'

"I mean, aren't there more important things to do? Aren't there people dying?

"I just wanted to go home with my mum - I wanted to see her. We were all so stressed out. It really sucked."

Under NSW law, parents and guardians have the right to discipline children, provided the punishment is reasonable.

Chatswood police duty officer Stefan Kent said striking a child's face was assault.

"She assaulted her in the charge room, in front of police," he said.

"That's no different from it occurring in their home or in the street or anywhere, for that matter."

Jeff Darby · 10th May 2010, 09:33 PM

Things have gone to far, this might be the letter of the law but it's not the spirit of the law dispensed in a reasonable and just manner! I would have slapped my childs face if she or he acted dis respectful of me.

Hats off to the judge

who quashed this charge, discipline starts at home, I do not believe in bashing my kids but a slap on the bum goes a long way in keeping them in control.

Eric Frei · 10th May 2010, 09:59 PM

Hows the dumb assed social workers and the system?

Put an AVO on the parent but bitch kid lives in the house and social services says the child may have fears for her safety so what next .... move mum out and the bitch kid runs the roost?

No wonder there's so many dead beat disrespectful brats these days.

Does anyone remeber that ACA or 60 minutes show a while back where a parent has this wild child and no-one could do shit to help out. Like she was stuck with this kid, kid was around 14 so couldn't get it out of the house. The parents get stuck, have to care for the brat till 18 etc, but law wont help.

What a mess, you wont see that sort of rebellion from a kid to their parent in Japanese or Indian families. They get taught respect, not how to be bitches by a system that's blind and wipes their brat asses.

Eric Frei · 10th May 2010, 11:20 PM

Have a read of what this sick Tasmanian mother did!

Tasmanian mum prostituted her daughter to pay off home loan, buy two Holden Commodores | Herald Sun

sueann · 11th May 2010, 12:10 AM

I don't know about the Japanese but the Indians sell their daughters in India, I don't know if their family values are all that good.

That last story is just disgusting! disgusting mother and disgusting men, surely they know what a 12yr old child looks like, yet they still went there.

Everyone involved is just revolting, disgusting and are plain filthy pigs.

jmcg.insight.gardens · 11th May 2010, 12:30 AM

I wish I hadn't read that,

druggos selling their children, they should be locked up forever, I'm a mother, I have one very beautiful daughter, it's your every instinct to protect them with your life, how could they?

10th May 2010, 09:33 PM	#2
Jeff Darby Moderator - Previously known as JayD Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: TreeWorld, Sydney Australia Posts: 2,031	Re: Judge throws out assault charge\| child slapped Things have gone to far, this might be the letter of the law but it's not the spirit of the law dispensed in a reasonable and just manner! I would have slapped my childs face if she or he acted dis respectful of me. Hats off to the judge who quashed this charge, discipline starts at home, I do not believe in bashing my kids but a slap on the bum goes a long way in keeping them in control. __________________ Member: Australian Tree Association Join the Australian Tree Association...Have your voice heard ! Arboriculture, A life long study for some, a passing phase for others © Jeffrey J Darby 2011

10th May 2010, 09:59 PM	#3
Eric Frei Admin - Razor sharp and independent 2 X Diploma Level 5 qualified arborist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,820	Re: Judge throws out assault charge\| child slapped Hows the dumb assed social workers and the system? Put an AVO on the parent but bitch kid lives in the house and social services says the child may have fears for her safety so what next .... move mum out and the bitch kid runs the roost? No wonder there's so many dead beat disrespectful brats these days. Does anyone remeber that ACA or 60 minutes show a while back where a parent has this wild child and no-one could do shit to help out. Like she was stuck with this kid, kid was around 14 so couldn't get it out of the house. The parents get stuck, have to care for the brat till 18 etc, but law wont help. What a mess, you wont see that sort of rebellion from a kid to their parent in Japanese or Indian families. They get taught respect, not how to be bitches by a system that's blind and wipes their brat asses. __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

10th May 2010, 11:20 PM	#4
Eric Frei Admin - Razor sharp and independent 2 X Diploma Level 5 qualified arborist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,820	Re: Judge throws out assault charge\| child slapped Have a read of what this sick Tasmanian mother did! Tasmanian mum prostituted her daughter to pay off home loan, buy two Holden Commodores \| Herald Sun __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

11th May 2010, 12:10 AM	#5
sueann Former Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Hunter Valley Australia Posts: 599	Re: Judge throws out assault charge\| child slapped I don't know about the Japanese but the Indians sell their daughters in India, I don't know if their family values are all that good. That last story is just disgusting! disgusting mother and disgusting men, surely they know what a 12yr old child looks like, yet they still went there. Everyone involved is just revolting, disgusting and are plain filthy pigs.

11th May 2010, 12:30 AM	#6
jmcg.insight.gardens Over mature heritage tree Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Mannering Park, Australia Posts: 623	Re: Judge throws out assault charge\| child slapped I wish I hadn't read that, druggos selling their children, they should be locked up forever, I'm a mother, I have one very beautiful daughter, it's your every instinct to protect them with your life, how could they?

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