Woman pleads guilty to fighting at cricket club

Another woman has changed her plea in relation to a fight that happened over the Christmas holidays.

Rei Ana Harris, 22, appeared in court this morning and was given an absolute discharge after she admitted taking part in a fight with friends Brandi Bassett and Akilah Smith.

Bassett changed her plea yesterday and was given an absolute discharge. Today, Harris was given the same sentence.

The court heard the girls got into a fight with the victim at 2am on December 27 at the Bailey’s Bay Cricket Club.

The defendants were seen punching the woman and pulling her hair.

The four women were separated by members of the public but a short while later, another fight broke out between them

After the altercation had finished, the complainant went to the Hamilton Police Station and reported the incident. She also went to hospital where she was treated for multiple abrasions to her face, a sprained jaw and contusions to her upper lip.

All three women were arrested and appeared in court on Friday where they denied the charges.

Addressing the court today, Harris said: I want to change my plea because I want to apologise for my actions. It won’t happen again.”

She admitted she had been drinking that night.

Harris told the court she is in her third year of her business course at Acadia University and is due toleave to return to school on the weekend.

Sentencing her, Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner said: “I will take it that this is an embarrassment for you standing here in front of me today.

“At least you should be embarrassed.

“If you can’t hold your liquor, don’t drink it. Leave it alone.

‘It clouds your judgement and bad decision making affects your whole life ahead of you.”

Mr Warner gave Harris an absolute discharge.

Ms Smith denied unlawfully assaulting the complainant and causing her actual bodily harm. She will stand trial in June.