A MOTHER-of-two has lodged an appeal after she was jailed yesterday for her part in an unprovoked attack on a disabled transgender woman.
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Christie Keighran, 22, was sentenced to six months in prison over an assault on wheelchair-bound Donna Macklan.
After being told of the sentence yesterday, Ms Macklan said she was still suffering the effects of the assault and had expected her attacker to go to jail.
Ms Macklan said she was too afraid to attend court for the sentencing.
“I’m at home scared,” Ms Macklan said.
“I’m too scared to walk my dog.
“I lost all my confidence ... I am a shattered person.”
Magistrate Megan Greenwood described Ms Macklan as a “vulnerable victim”.
Keighran was convicted last month of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and maliciously damaging property.
Albury Local Court had been told Keighran swung a shovel at Ms Macklan in the assault on January 15.
Ms Macklan had gone to visit a neighbour in Lavington when the assault took place.
Keighran and her then partner, Graeme Loxton, had been at the house.
There was an argument with Ms Macklan when she came to the door and she attempted to leave but Loxton punched her to the face.
Keighran called Ms Macklan a hermaphrodite and the assault continued outside with Keighran swinging a shovel at Ms Macklan.
She missed but hit the wheelchair, causing extensive damage.
The court heard that Keighran succeeded in striking Ms Macklan with the shovel while she was on the ground and witnesses said they saw Keighran kick Ms Macklan to the stomach several times.
Ms Macklan eventually managed to leave, suffering fractured vertebrae, a broken elbow, cuts and swelling.
Ms Greenwood said yesterday Keighran’s assault was more serious than Loxton’s because she vilified the victim and used a weapon.
Loxton has previously been given a 12-month bond for his part in the assault.
“The attack was at least in part motivated by Ms Macklan’s transgender condition,” Ms Greenwood told Keighran.
“We live in a tolerant community ... whatever your opinion of transgender people, Ms Macklan along with everyone else deserves to be treated with respect.”
Keighran was ordered to pay $2638 compensation for damage to the wheelchair.
She was bailed pending her appeal.