Science proves window smashing deeds

A scientist who was able to show that glass contained in cuts in an aluminium bat matched glass of smashed windows has defeated the lies of Kymberlea Anne Pratt.

Pratt, who had armed herself with a bat and driven from Dannevirke to Masterton to smash windows at a rental property, tried to downplay her role during her defended hearing before Judge Arthur Tompkins in the Masterton District Court last week.

Pratt was convicted of wilful damage charges and ordered to pay $550 reparation and $642 in witness fees.

The court heard how on November 23 last year, Pratt, 40, of Dannevirke and her ex-partner Craig Mailman received a phone call from their son Jordon Pratt saying he was concerned his flatmate Melissa Hanson was moving from the house taking his gear including a ute parked at the property.

They armed themselves with the aluminium baseball bat and drove to the Colombo Rd house, parked in the driveway and confronted Ms Hanson and three men.

The 111 call made by Ms Hanson was played to the court in which the woman described seeing Pratt leave the car wielding the baseball bat and relayed information from others inside the house stating Pratt was smashing windows.

Senior Constable Tony Mathison and other police who arrived on the scene, gave evidence of seeing Pratt leaning against a car with the baseball bat in one hand and a kitchen knife in the other.

She told police "I smashed one window" pointing to others at the property saying "they smashed the others".

After her arrest, Pratt claimed she hadn't broken any windows.

Auckland ESR forensic scientists Sally Coulson gave evidence stating there was glass ingrained in cuts on the bat which were of the same "index" as glass from the windows.

Defence lawyer Virginia Pearson submitted her client hadn't smashed the windows as they had been broken from the inside.

Judge Tompkins ruled police had proven the case against Pratt.

At a previous appearance she had pleaded guilty to possession of an offensive weapon, the baseball bat. The judge convicted Pratt on both charges, ordered she pay the reparation and witness expenses along with a fine of $250 for the possession of an offensive weapon.