A Sydney mother has been convicted of domestic violence after hitting her daughter outside a restaurant in July.
The woman’s five-year-old daughter was reportedly more interested in her ballet costume than her food, and when she wouldn’t eat her mother sent her outside the restaurant and began hitting her repeatedly.
The incident was filmed and photographed by a bystander who alerted police.
“Mummy hurt me, mummy hit my belly, with her hand, because I wouldn’t eat my food,” the five-year-old told police when they arrived at the scene.
Appearing in Newtown local court on Tuesday, the woman’s lawyer, Athena Touriki, claimed this form of discipline was common in South Korea where the woman grew up and was subject to such discipline.
“The discipline was a vicious assault. You can say it’s cultural discipline. I don’t agree,” replied Magistrate Robert Williams.
Magistrate Williams fined the woman $1200 and sentenced her to an 18-month good behaviour bond.
The woman has also been ordered to attend stress management and parenting classes.
