URGENT UPDATE: A shocking supermarket brawl in Bathurst has resulted in a woman being fined $1,000 and placed on a 12-month community correction order. The incident, which unfolded on December 7, 2024, was captured on CCTV and occurred in front of children, raising serious concerns about public safety and parental responsibility.
Kimberly Simpson, 25, from Bannerman Crescent, Kelso, pleaded guilty to a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm during a hearing at Bathurst Local Court on October 22, 2025. The court heard that the altercation began around 8:30 PM when an argument erupted between Simpson, the victim, and her cousin inside the supermarket.
According to court documents, the confrontation escalated after Simpson raised her middle finger at the victim, followed by a physical attack where she pulled the victim’s hair and scratched her arm and forehead. The situation quickly deteriorated as the two women moved from aisle to aisle, both engaged in the violent exchange.
Police were called to the scene after the incident, and on July 29, officers visited Simpson at her home. During questioning, she claimed the victim had provoked her by calling her a “paedophile protector.” Simpson stated, “Something ticked in my head … I put my stuff down and walked closer to her … it all exploded from there.”
In court, Simpson’s solicitor, Joan Collings, backed her client’s assertion of being verbally abused, emphasizing that this provocation led to her aggressive reaction. Magistrate Gemma Slack-Smith, however, underscored the seriousness of the incident, noting, “It was in public, other people were exposed to it.”
The emotional impact of such public violence cannot be overstated, especially considering the presence of children during the altercation. This case raises important questions about behavior in public spaces and the responsibility of adults to model appropriate conflict resolution.
As the community processes this alarming event, residents are urged to reflect on the implications of public violence and the importance of maintaining decorum in family-friendly environments. The court’s decision sends a clear message: aggressive behavior will not be tolerated, especially in front of vulnerable witnesses.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: As discussions continue about public safety and community standards, further developments in similar cases may emerge. Authorities are likely to monitor social behaviors in public spaces more closely, hoping to prevent incidents like this from occurring in the future.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
