A woman has been banned from entering a Keilor East bottle shop for 12 months over an armed robbery charge, which is due to be heard in the Koori Court.
Naomi Ross pleaded guilty in the County Court to one charge of armed robbery with a knife at a BWS store in the Milleara mall on June 26 this year.
However, the 39-year-old’s charge will be heard in the Koori Court.
Justice Paul Grant said a sentencing conversation in the Koori Court before a Koori elder was the best way to deal with Ms Ross’s charge.
“[The court] is designed to further the reformation of an Aboriginal offender,” he said. “Participation in the process is not easy … it is challenging.
“Your active participation in the process is a factor that mitigates punishment.
“It was obvious to me … that you were sorry for what you had done and that you do have insight into the importance of complying with your treatment regime,” Justice Grant commented.
“This augurs well for your future rehabilitation.”
The court heard the victim of the robbery had taken three weeks off work after the incident and required counselling.
Justice Grant said Ross had been “psychiatrically unwell” leading up to the incident.
“The offending falls within the very low range for offending of this type,” he said. “You wore no disguise and there is no evidence of pre-planning.
“Although you did wave the knife in the air, you did not point it at the victim.”
