Hearing begins against former Tasmanian Labor MP Kathryn Hay, accused of emotional abuse and intimidation of ex-partner
Former Tasmanian Labor MP Kathryn Hay has pleaded not guilty to the charge. (ABC News: Morgan Timms)
A former Tasmanian Labor MP has faced court over allegations she punched her ex-partner Troy Shane Richardson in the face and verbally abused him during their relationship.
Kathryn Hay, 48, appeared in the Launceston Magistrates Court on Tuesday, on a charge of emotional abuse or intimidation which she has previously pleaded not guilty to.
Ms Hay was a Labor member for Bass in northern Tasmania between 2002 and 2006, and was also Miss Tasmania and Miss Australia 1999.
The alleged abuse took place after Ms Hay's time in parliament.
The court heard the pair were in a relationship between 2010 and 2022, with Mr Richardson telling Magistrate Simon Brown the abuse began in 2013.
Troy Richardson arrives back at Launceston Magistrates Court after the lunch break on the first day of a three-day hearing. (ABC News: Morgan Timms)
Ex-partner alleges he was hit with shoe
Mr Richardson detailed alleged abuse by Ms Hay during a holiday in Melbourne in 2014.
"I was hit in the face while I was driving, with a shoe, many times," he said.
During cross examination, Ms Hay's defence lawyer said the police statement Mr Richardson gave did not mention a shoe.
He put it to Mr Richardson that he was not hit at all, which Mr Richardson denied.
Mr Richardson alleged in a separate incident that Ms Hay threw a bowl of cereal at him during an argument.
"[She was] saying I was useless and pathetic and called me a c***," he said.
Mr Richardson alleged that in December 2020, Ms Hay punched him in the face.
The court was presented with a photo of Mr Richardson with a black eye, dated 16 December, 2020.
Mr Richardson said Ms Hay gave him a list of tasks to complete every day.
"If it wasn't done properly, I'd get abused, if it was done, I'd get another list," he said.
He also alleged Ms Hay tried to persuade him not to attend counselling sessions.
Facebook messages shown in court
Mr Richardson said Ms Hay frequently abused him online and in person.
The prosecution showed the court 12 sets of screenshots of Facebook messages between the pair.
One message called Mr Richardson "a f***ing moron", while another threatened to "punch [him] in the f***ing face".
Ms Hay was as a Labor member for Bass in northern Tasmania between 2002 and 2006. (ABC News: Morgan Timms)
Ms Hay's defence lawyer said Ms Hay would tell the court in her evidence that she did not send a lot of the messages presented to the court.
Her defence put to Mr Richardson that he had access to her phone and had control over her Facebook and Messenger accounts.
Mr Richardson denied the accusation.
Ms Hay's defence lawyer was set to continue cross-examining Mr Richardson on Wednesday, but the hearing was adjourned as Magistrate Brown called in sick.
A further three hearing days have been scheduled for July 17 to 19, when the prosecution will call more witnesses and Ms Hay will give evidence.
Ms Hay was the first woman of Aboriginal descent to be elected to the state's lower house in 2002.
She did not recontest her seat in the 2006 election but later had an unsuccessful tilt at the Legislative Council seat of Windermere in 2009.
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