In a turn of events that was as unpredictable as it was unfortunate, a woman found herself faced with serious legal repercussions after a series of incidents fueled by alcohol. Reggae Holly Jones, a 30-year-old resident of Brisbane, was the protagonist in an unfortunate tale that began with a heated altercation during an evening of drinking at a friend’s house.
In a moment of impetuosity borne out of a flippant dare, Jones stabbed a man who had dared her to carry out her threats, saying, “If you’ve got the balls lady, do it.” The spur of the moment action landed the man in the hospital and Jones with a criminal charge.
However, this was not the end of her reckless streak. A mere few months later, a motorist would bear the brunt of her indignation, as Jones, yet under the influence of an intoxicating substance, ran him over in a fit of rage. The accident hurled the hapless motorcyclist into a crowded junction, leaving him injured and abandoned at the mishap site.
This series of unfortunate actions landed Jones before the Brisbane’s Court of Appeal where she appealed her sentence on Friday. However, her pleas for leniency were struck down by the bench. In an unanimous decision, the judges established that her sentence was not “manifestly excessive” and supported the lower court’s finding of “quintessential serious violent offence” using a vehicle. Supreme Court Justice Michael Buss affirmed, “Both counts… involved serious offending of its kind.”
As a consequence, Jones was sentenced to seven long years behind bars after pleading guilty to a host of charges, including grievous bodily harm and dangerous driving while affected by an intoxicating substance. She was mandated to serve half of her sentence before becoming eligible for parole.
The court learnt during Jones’s sentencing that the knife attack incident took place on December 6, 2020. Jones, who had been consuming alcohol with a friend, grew agitated and threatened to stab a man present. When he challenged her to carry out her threat, she did not hesitate to live up to it, landing him in the hospital.
Months later, Jones, while out on bail, instigated a road rage incident, ultimately colliding with a motorcyclist on Gympie Rd in Kedron. The impact of the collision sent the rider sprawling across the intersection of Gympie Rd and Sadlier St. The rider was left with multiple fractures which necessitated surgery and, to this day, cause him significant mobility issues.
Reggae Holly Jones was found to have a BAC of .097 when arrested and attributed her reckless behaviour to the stress of the anniversary of her young son’s passing in 2010. She expressed regret over her actions, stating “I shouldn’t have left the scene, it makes me look like a mongrel. He did nothing wrong to me, that’s the worst part.”
Jones’ legal team contested the sentencing, deeming it excessive in light of not having set a parole eligibility date. Their argument, however, fell on unsympathetic ears. The Court of Appeal judges, in a unanimous voice, countered that given her erratic driving, Jones’ actions necessitated a longer incarceration period for public safety.
Sadly, despite her remorse, Reggae Holly Jones will remain a stark reminder of the deep-seated damage unchecked aggression and impaired driving can cause.
