Shanniah Melody Rose King’s small size gets fine for police assault

A woman who has a “tumultuous history” with police has had her small size taken into consideration when a magistrate fined her for assaulting an officer.

A woman who has a “tumultuous history” with police has had her small size taken into consideration when a magistrate fined her for assaulting an officer.

Shanniah Melody Rose King jumped on Detective Senior Constable Nick Bach’s back in a bid to hold off police from entering a shed where drug paraphernalia was eventually located.

King, 21, pleaded guilty to one count each of assault police, possessing utensils or pipes that had been used, possessing cannabis, and breach of bail.

Police prosecutor Acting Sergeant Tim Madsen said King spotted police arrive at the property through the blinds and had made attempted to call out to her partner and warn them of a search warrant.

“The victim officer ran to her, she tried to stop the officer by standing in front of him with her harms spread, she tried to alert her partner who was in the back yard so he could gain access to the other entry of the shed,” Acting Sgt Madsen said.

He said the force of King jumping on Senior Constable Bach’s back caused the two of them to fall to the ground.

“She continued to resist, yelling profanities at police and obstructing further,” he said.

The court heard a glass pipe and cone pieces were located as well as less than 1g of cannabis and was for personal use only.

Defence solicitor Andrew Peel said King had a tumultuous relationship with Queensland Police and that she had spent more than six hours in the watch house following the event.

Magistrate Peter Smid said he took into account King’s small size.

“It’s not as if a big male wrestler assaulted police …,” Mr Smid said.

King was fined a total of $550 for all offences except the breach of bail, no convictions were recorded.

Source: Townsville Bulletin