A WIRES volunteer who nearly ran a cyclist off the road before assaulting her with a baseball bat has had her firearms confiscated and will be dealt with under the Mental Health Act.
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Janina Beatrice Price had several firearms, assault and driving charges discharged in Tamworth Local Court as she undergoes treatment for medical conditions.
The 59-year-old was not required to enter a plea to the 10 charges stemming from two incidents in Moore Creek, just out of Tamworth, on October 17.
Following specialist reports and an application to have the matter dealt with under the Mental Health (Forensic Provisions) Act was granted by magistrate Roger Prowse, who ordered Price to comply with a treatment plan or have the matter return to court.
According to police fact sheets tendered in court, a female cyclist was riding along Moore Creek Road about 10am when she felt a white utility travel past at speed extremely close which “made her bike wobble and she had to make attempts to stabilise it so she wouldn’t fall off”.
Price was driving the vehicle and stopped it in the middle of the road before driving slow and speeding up.
Shortly after, the cyclist noticed Price standing in the driveway of the property up ahead and barbed wire laying over the road.
The woman asked Price “what did you do that for? You almost hit me”, to which Price said something to the effect of ‘you’re not registered’.
“I’m a person, you could have killed me,” the victim replied.
I’m a person, you could have killed me.
- Victim
Price told her: "I don't care, I don't like humans, you're all bottom feeders”.
The incident was captured on the cyclist’s bike camera. The victim told police Price armed herself with a wooden baseball bat, raised it above her head and struck the ute before pointing it at the victim and telling her to “f*** off now”.
“The accused raised the baseball bat in her right hand and struck the victim on her left leg,” facts state.
I don't care, I don't like humans, you're all bottom feeders.
- Janina Beatrice Price
The bat also collided with the victim’s bike, denting and cracking it.
She continued to act aggressively before getting in her vehicle and driving off.
The accused raised the baseball bat in her right hand and struck the victim on her left leg.
- Police facts
The cyclist suffered bruising to her leg, and reported the incident to police later that day, handing over the footage of the confrontation.
In an unrelated incident on the same day, Tamworth officers went to the Moore Creek property about 11.30am in relation to a domestic dispute and to serve a firearms notice of suspension.
Price has three registered firearms which she uses “to assist her with animal welfare”, and is a volunteer for the local branch of WIRES Inc, facts stated.
Police said the house was unlocked, with doors and windows opened. After obtaining permission from another occupant of the property, officers found a Remington .22 calibre rifle in the “loungeroom leaning up against the wall and cabinet”.
“The firearm was loaded containing 14 rounds of ammunition including one in the chamber,” police facts state.
Two rifle magazines including one with live ammunition were found in the kitchen while the gun safe was wide open with two firearms including a .410 shotgun and a .22 calibre magnum rifle inside. All firearms and ammunition were seized.
Price was charged with offences including negligent driving, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, intentionally or recklessly damaging the bike and armed with intent with a baseball bat to commit an indictable offence, namely intimidation.