Chasleigh Karen Mitchell: Woman sentenced for assaulting and sitting on woman’s lap in Wandina car jacking

A young woman who attempted to rip a woman out of the driver’s seat of a car at an intersection and sat on her lap, dangerously taking control of the vehicle, has avoided jail. Chasleigh Karen Mitchell, 23, appeared in the Geraldton District Court via video link from Carnarvon courthouse on March 11 for sentencing over the carjacking, including charges of aggravated robbery and endangering life. About 10.40am on September 16, 2022, a 54-year-old woman was travelling alone in her vehicle when she approached the intersection of Ocean Queen Drive and Derna Parade in Wandina. The court was told Mitchell approached the idle vehicle and entered the passenger side, causing the woman to scream in fear “get the f... out of my car”. Mitchell removed herself from the car and moved towards the driver’s side where the court was told she tried to pull the woman out by grabbing her hair and clothes and punching her in the head. The State prosecutor said Mitchell climbed into the car and sat on top of the victim, who was wearing her seatbelt. Mitchell took hold of the wheel and accelerated. The prosecutor said the victim had no control over the car as it swerved across the road for about 300m. The victim managed to put her foot on the brake and the car came to a stop. Mitchel ran off towards a nearby primary school, the court was told. Defence lawyer Elliott Tilbury said a psychiatric assessment found while Mitchell was using drugs around the time of the offence and had an “impaired mental state”, the episode was more likely due to a schizophrenic episode. The assessment also said Mitchell had consumed acid 24 hours previously, had minimal sleep and was consuming cannabis in higher doses than what she usually would. Mr Tilbury said Mitchell thought someone was going to harm her and was trying to get away. Judge Christian Miocevich said although it was an episode of schizophrenia and not a drug-induced psychosis, her mental health was exacerbated by drug use. “The causative link significantly affects your criminality,” he said. Judge Miocevich said it took three months for the victim’s injuries to heal and she lived with daily pain and restriction of movement. He said she also suffered from anxiety attacks when stopped at intersections. Taking into account her young age, mental health, her 33 days spent in custody and lack of record, Judge Miocevich sentenced Mitchell to a 12-month intensive supervision order. “You now have assistance in the community in relation to your mental health, and it’s in your interest and the community’s that you continue to get that help and take the medication you are subscribed,” the judge told Mitchell. “Listen to your doctors, do what they say, and do something about your cannabis use.”