Chelsea Gandy-Edmunds & Bree Courtney Graham: Mother and daughter duo convicted of South West pub bashing

A Balingup mother and daughter have been ordered to comply with supervision and programs for the next 12 months after admitting to ganging up on a woman in an alcohol-fuelled attack at a South West pub. Bree Courtney Graham, 39, and Chelsea Gandy-Edmunds, 21, appeared at Bunbury Magistrates Court last week, where they were both placed on a 12-month intensive supervision order with supervision and program requirements after they previously pleaded guilty to charges of assault occasioning bodily harm. The court was told Graham, Gandy-Edmunds and Danteah Rose Fuller were at the Kirup Tavern during the evening of September 7 last year. While at the pub having drinks, Graham approached the victim — a 23-year-old female whom the prosecution said was known to the mother and daughter — before getting into a verbal argument. The verbal altercation attracted the attention of the venue’s manager, who attempted to usher Graham away from the victim. Gandy-Edmunds then also approached the victim, knocking her drink out of her hand. The altercation then turned physical, with several punches thrown by Graham and Gandy-Edmunds. The mother and daughter continued the assault while the victim was on the ground, kicking her and pulling her hair before the fight was eventually broken up. The victim suffered swelling to her face, with some of her hair also pulled out during the incident. Fuller, who became involved in the incident by pulling the group to the ground in an attempt to defuse the situation, had an initial charge of assault occasioning bodily harm downgraded to common assault in December and fined $500. In submissions, counsel acting for both Graham and Gandy-Edmunds told the court the pair, who were embarrassed and ashamed by the offending, had attended a relative’s funeral earlier that day, which resulted in heightened emotions. It was also submitted the victim had allegedly insulted Graham and made remarks about her late relative. The court was also told Graham had since ceased consuming alcohol and Gandy-Edmunds had stopped using illicit substances, with both attending counselling for their treatment needs. In sentencing, Magistrate Benjamin Tyers told the women that while the incident was a “serious example of an assault in a public space”, he accepted that emotions were running high for them that day. “It’s obvious there’s some issue between the victim and Ms Graham and it escalated,” he said. “This was a bad day for both of you and no doubt emotions were running high.” The pair only spoke to thank Mr Tyers after being sentenced.