Probation for car rage

Julie Lightfoot

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

A WOMAN who smashed into a gravestone as she drove at her daughter's partner while he pushed her grandchild in a pram has been sentenced to 18 months' probation by a Cairns magistrate.

Innisfail grandmother Christine Patricia Horwood, 35, crashed into a gravestone after veering off the Bruce Highway and driving straight for her daughter’s partner who was walking alongside the Innisfail Cemetery with his young family, the Innisfail Magistrates' Court heard yesterday.

"She swerved towards him while he was pushing his four-and-a-half-month-old baby and he ran towards the cemetery, gave the pram to his partner and ran further into the cemetery," police prosecutor Mick O'Rourke told the court.

Horwood continued to chase the man until her car hit a tombstone and blew a tyre, Sgt O'Rourke said.

Lawyer Andrew Denison said his client had snapped after her daughter's partner "gave her the finger" when she drove past.

"She lost her temper momentarily and drove at him," Mr Denison said.

"But she never meant to hurt anyone, just to scare him."

Horwood pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, wilful damage and common assault.

She told police she was doing no more than 15km/h.

Mr Denison said the incident was "out of character".

But Cairns Magistrate Kerry McFadden, who relieved at Innisfail court yesterday, said there were no excuses and Horwood was lucky not to be facing a manslaughter or murder charge.

He sentenced her to 18 months' probation, disqualified her from driving for 18 months and ordered she pay $230 to cover damage to the gravestone.

No excuses: Innisfail grandmother Christine Horwood outside court yesterday.

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