Young mother glasses family friend at Wellington Hotel
A young mother has plead guilty to aggravated intentionally causing harm following an assault at the Wellington Hotel in Wellington.
Morgan Morris-Eyles, 26, smashed a glass across the face of a family friend.
The incident took place on 8 April 2022 and left the victim with facial injures, but Morris-Eyles told the court she remembers nothing.
Judge Joana Fuller residing over the District Court last week, heard the victim needed 12 stitches across her neck and face.
Morris-Eyles had gone to the Wellington Hotel for an engagement party.
“A friend had come down from Darwin and Ms Morris-Eyles memories of the day are vague,” defence lawyer Wayne Carlin said.
“She does remember driving from Adelaide to Wellington, booking a room at the caravan park and getting to the hotel at 6pm.”
The court heard the mother of three caught up with several long lost friends.
“She can recall some of the speeches, then her first recollection is waking up in hospital,” Carlin said.
Morris-Eyles initially made a refuted claim that the victim had made a comment about her children.
“How could someone lie about such a horrific and horrible situation,” the victim said.
Morris-Eyles suffered a serious cut to her hand which severed the nerve and required surgery, however Carlin said the defendant recognises her injuries are insignificant compared to that of her victim.
Carlin urged Judge Fuller to suspend any prison sentence imposed, with the judge asking for more information about how a jail term would affect Morris-Eyles’ three children.
The attack was filmed on security cameras.
Irit Jackson, 13th April 2023
