Sarah Lord's courtroom outburst ends tumultuous day of violence order hearings
Judge Halburd offered defendants three choices to speed through a packed docket of violence order cases.
Albury Local Court was packed on Tuesday, September 29, as Judge Chris Halburd worked through a heavy docket of apprehended violence orders (AVOs). The judge offered all remaining cases a streamlined choice: seek an adjournment to get legal advice, accept the order and its conditions, or oppose it and wait for a court date next year.
Most chose to accept. Every AVO requires defendants not to assault, stalk, harass, intimidate, damage property or harm animals.
Additional conditions can restrict contact or distance from home, work or the protected person. One case turned dramatic when Sarah Lord, defending herself against an AVO filed by Jaylen Thrower, began yelling in court and swearing at the judge.
She later screamed down the hallway. Judge Halburd noted her behaviour as assault.
An order was placed against her for two years.
- Tuesday, September 29
- Hearing date
- Albury Local Court
- Court location
- Two years
- Order duration
- 24 years old
- Thrower's age
Why it mattersCourts are overwhelmed with domestic violence cases; defendants without lawyers are often lost, and escalation in the courtroom can lead to fresh charges.
AustraliaAlbury residents see first-hand how NSW courts manage the surge in violence orders and how quickly the system can turn on those who disrupt proceedings.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 1 h ago
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