Perth mother sentenced for assaulting schoolgirl
A Perth mother has been given a 12-month conditional release order for assaulting a teenage girl from her daughter’s school.
Leah Ross, 39, left a 14-year-old girl with two black eyes and a bruised nose after she pinned her to the ground at a bus stop near Melville Senior High School on February 10.
The violent incident was sparked by a fight between Ms Ross’ daughter and the victim, over alleged derogatory comments the girl made about the victim’s recently deceased mother.
Dramatic video of the brawl shows the two girls exchanging blows in front of dozens of fellow student, before Ms Ross walks over to them in what at first looks like an attempt to separate the pair.
Instead, the woman from Yangebup, pins the girl to ground while her daughter continues to punch the victim in her side.
“You stay away from my family or I'll tear your face off,” Ms Ross can be seen shouting, just inches away from the girl’s face.
“She’s talking about my mother,” the victim can be heard shouting back.
Off-camera the victim says Ms Ross punched and hit her in the head, causing her to suffer two black eyes, a bruised nose and back pain.
Ms Ross appeared in Fremantle Magistrates court on Tuesday facing charges of assault and disorderly behaviour.
She was given the conditional release order and will be fined $1500 if she breaches the order with any further offence during the next year, reports News Corp.
The Magistrate dismissed a lesser charge of disorderly behaviour, as Ms Ross had previously pleaded guilty to the assault charge.
Morning news break – September 09
