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A court hearing for a former Miss Australia accused of emotionally abusing her then-husband has been postponed because the acting magistrate has COVID-19.
Catherine Isobel Hay, 48, previously pleaded not guilty to emotionally abusing or intimidating Troy Shane Richardson from January 2014 to November 2022.
The court was told that magistrate Simon Brown, who was visibly coughing during the first day’s proceedings, had the coronavirus.
The hearing was scheduled to continue on July 17, with a total of three days set aside.
Hay, who was a Labor Member of the Tasmanian Parliament from 2002 to 2006, was crowned Miss Tasmania and Miss Australia in 1999.
Richardson, whose cross-examination has not concluded, told the court of several occasions when Hay punched and slapped him and was verbally abusive in person and via text messages.
He said he was threatened every week, had a bruised eye from being punched, called a f— and a bastard, hit with a shoe while he was driving and told by Hay to revoke a domestic violence order against her.
He rejected accusations by Hay’s lawyer that he made it all up, that he had control of her Facebook account and that he sent messages to himself.
Richardson told the court that Hay had falsely accused him of having an affair and stalking her.
He said the alleged abuse and accusations made him feel depressed and worthless.
“She often tried to argue in public just to make me feel inferior,” he said.
“It’ll make me want to curl up into a little ball.”
Richardson agreed with Hay’s lawyer’s contention that the end of their marriage was acrimonious.
Hay is expected to testify, as are two councilmen and a police officer.
National Domestic Violence Service: 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732). If you are in immediate danger, call triple zero (000).
Readers seeking support can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Out of the Blue on 1300 22 4636.
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