Lisa Maree Joy Dowker: Woman sentenced for smashing whisky bottle over head in episode of ‘drunken violence’

A woman who got into a drunken argument with a friend inside her own home and smashed a whisky bottle over her head has received a community-based order. Lisa Maree Joy Dowker, 39, appeared in Geraldton Magistrates Court on Monday charged with two counts of unlawful wounding. After negotiations, one count was dropped and the second count was amended to assault occasioning bodily harm. She pleaded guilty to the assault and was sentenced. The court was told the victim and her daughter visited Dowker’s Rangeway home last year and were drinking alcohol until the early hours of the morning the next day. Police prosecutor Sgt Carey Owen said about 1am an argument broke out and Dowker smashed a whisky bottle over the victim’s head in the kitchen, causing a large gash. A physical altercation continued on the front lawn while a neighbour alerted police and ambulance services. Defence counsel Lauren Roycroft said Dowker had raised the behaviour of the victim’s daughter and it led to the argument, which happened in her own home where she should feel safe. Ms Roycroft said Dowker received cuts to her legs, was hit with a shovel and bitten on her hands and it was a lower level of offending looking at the “wider matrix” of what occurred. Sgt Owen said it was a serious offence because Dowker armed herself with a weapon, which led to serious injuries. Magistrate Matthew Walton said it was a significant and “very regrettable incident of drunken violence” which could have resulted in a more serious outcome. “(I am) of the view this very marginally fell outside a term of imprisonment ... it was a very close call for you today,” he said. Dowker was sentenced to an eight-month community based order.