STATE OF TASMANIA v KRISTA JENNIFER BRYAN 24 SEPTEMBER 2025
COMMENTS ON PASSING SENTENCE WOOD J
Krista Jennifer Bryan, you have pleaded guilty to a crime of taking part in an affray contrary to s 80 of the Criminal Code
The crime of taking part in an affray involves taking part in a fight in a public place, and causing terror to people who are nearby.
You are jointly charged with Danny Crawford, Storm Louise Quinn and Izac Riley King with respect to that crime.
On 2 October 2023 you and the people you were with were on the top floor of Eastlands Shopping Centre at Rosny. It was approximately 3:45 in the afternoon, it was the first day of the third term school holidays and the Centre was busy with families and elderly people.
You and your partner Mr Taylor-Lawdorn were talking together and slightly behind were Danny Crawford, Ms Storm Quinn and Mr Izac Riley King were walking together.
There were adults in both groups pushing small children in prams.
Words were exchanged between you and Mr King. You stopped and the argument continued with Ms Quinn becoming involved. The groups were milling outside a store.
A physical altercation broke out between you and Ms Quinn. Both of you exchanged punches and fell to the ground. Members of the public fled the immediate area to avoid becoming involved. The altercation continued with you and Ms Quinn throwing punches at each other. The two of you broke apart but continued to exchange words and others in the groups did as well.
Mr Crawford and Mr King stepped forward and punched Mr Taylor-Lawdorn. This group of three men commenced fighting and exchanging punches. Mr King extricated himself but Mr Crawford and Mr Taylor-Lawdorn continued to fight, throwing punches, kicking and pulling each other.
You, Mr King and Ms Quinn became involved trying to break up the fight. Ms Quinn took hold of Mr Taylor-Lawdorn by the hair, pulling him across the ground. Mr King punched Mr Taylor-Lawdorn and tried to pull him away from Mr Crawford. You pulled Mr King and punched him to the chest.
Mr King pulled Mr Taylor-Lawdorn off Mr Crawford who got back up on his feet, brandishing a knife. The blade of the knife was clearly visible and was approximately 10 cm in length.
Mr Crawford and Mr Taylor-Lawdorn wrestled while Mr Crawford held the knife. Mr Crawford was standing in a threatening posture, saying words to the effect that he was going to kill Mr Taylor-Lawdorn.
You grabbed at the men, yelling at Mr Crawford to “put the knife away now” and the two men separated.
Ms Quinn and you again engaged in a fight, trading punches to the face and head area. The fight ceased momentarily but then recommenced and the two of you exchanged blows and pulled each other’s hair. Ms Quinn took hold of a nearby trolley and forced it into you pushing you backwards. You and Ms Quinn continued to yell at each another and tried to approach each other but were stopped by the co-accused and security.
After the physical altercation ceased the individuals approached each other aggressively, yelling abuse and threats. Security personnel and witnesses intervened a number of times to prevent the fight re-commencing.
The individuals involved continued to scream and yell abuse as they left the Centre via different exits. The incident had been reported to Tasmania Police and multiple people had called triple zero requesting police assistance. They arrived a short time later. By then only you and Mr Taylor-Lawdorn were still present. Mr Taylor-Lawdorn had sustained some minor injuries, he was emotional and nauseous and taken by ambulance to hospital for assessment.
The incident was captured on CCTV from the Centre, and body worn camera footage from Centre security and mobile phones from witnesses.
There were approximately twenty people of all ages including children standing around while the incident took place. There was continuous yelling and screaming abuse and the young children of the individuals involved were in the midst of the fracas, screaming, crying, and distressed. Their prams were moved as the altercation continued and the individuals fought each other.
The commotion and the violence caused members of the public fear and consternation, as well as concern for children who were close by.
During the incident a number of shop owners erected their security doors to protect themselves and their customers. Members of the public retreated into nearby shops in fear. Others backed themselves into corners. Because the altercation moved down the Centre past a number of stores, other members of the public were exposed to the violence.
Mr Crawford’s conduct in brandishing the knife was seen by security personnel and members of the public who were fearful that someone was about to be stabbed.
On 22 November 2023 you were arrested and declined to participate in a police interview. You and the others involved in the affray were issued with a Shopping Centre Ban Notice for a period of 12 months.
In determining the sentence to be imposed I must take into account Ms Bryan’s personal circumstances.
Ms Bryan is now 25 years of age. She has a prior offence of disorderly conduct committed in 2018 and an offence of destroy property in 2019. She was sentenced to an undertaking without conviction and a community correction order for a short term.
Ms Bryan and her partner Mr Taylor-Lawdorn have a young child and stable accommodation. She regrets her involvement and realises she should have reacted differently. She does not take drugs which is a positive factor in assessing her risk of future offending.
I give weight to Ms Bryan’s plea of guilty but not as much weight as I would have given it if it had been an early guilty plea.
I note there Ms Bryan did not participate in the affray on just a single occasion and then desist or walk away. There was more than one instance when Ms Bryan and Ms Quinn acted with aggression and violence towards each other. I note however that some of Ms Bryan’s actions were directed to assisting her partner and trying to stop the violence directed at him. I also note that Ms Bryan and Mr Taylor-Lawdorn did not initiate the abuse and aggression which led to the affray. Further, Ms Bryan and Mr Taylor-Lawdorn demonstrated a level of responsibility after the affray in that they stayed behind and waited for the police to arrive.
Violent brawling in a public place is a serious matter. Ms Bryan, you saw first hand how an exchange of blows and violence can escalate, and how your partner was suddenly at real risk of serious injury. Furthermore, the violence and aggression had a real impact upon the public and the shop owners and their sense of safety. You and your co-offenders engaged in the violence were indifferent to that impact. General and personal deterrence are important sentencing goals. Often an actual gaol sentence would be required. Having regard to your personal circumstances, I consider a suspended term of imprisonment on strict conditions is appropriate and gives weight to goals of deterrence but also rehabilitation which is in the interests of the community.
Krista Jennifer Bryan, you are convicted of the crime of taking part in an affray. I impose a sentence of three months’ imprisonment wholly suspended for a period of 12 months from today subject to the following strict conditions:
- You must not commit an offence punishable by imprisonment for a period of 12 months from today; and for the same period
- You must submit to the supervision of a probation officer as required by the probation officer.
- You must, within 24 hours, attend Community Corrections at 75 Liverpool Street, Hobart and report to a probation officer and subsequently as required by a probation officer;
- You must comply with the reasonable and lawful directions of a probation officer or supervisor as required;
- You must not leave or remain outside Tasmania without the permission of a probation officer; and
- You must give notice to a probation officer of any change of address or employment before, or within two working days after the change.