Ex-Miss Australia who became an MP is accused of assaulting her husband over 10 years, cutting him off from his family and telling him he was ‘worthless and useless’
- Kathryn Hay charged with emotional abuse or intimidation
- She allegedly abused her husband for 10 years
- Ms Hay was a Labor MP for Bass in northern Tasmania
A former state politician and winner of Miss Australia is accused of punching her husband in the face and verbally abusing him for more than a decade.
Kathryn Isobel Hay was a Labor MP for Bass in northern Tasmania between 2002 and 2006 and was also crowned Miss Tasmania and Miss Australia 1999.
The ex-politician and beauty pageant winner faced Launceston Magistrates Court on March 2 charged with one count of emotional abuse or intimidation and did not enter a plea.
Ms Hay’s alleged victim is her husband, Troy Shane Richardson, however the pair’s current relationship status is unknown.
The charges include 46 particulars relating to physical violence, manipulation and control against Mr Richardson between October 22, 2011 and February 13, 2022.
Former Tasmanian Labor member for Bass and winner of Miss Australia in 1999 Kathryn Hay (pictured) is charged with one count of emotional abuse or intimidation against her husband
Court documents include 46 particulars relating to physical violence, manipulation and control against her partner, Troy Shane Richardson, between October 22, 2011 to February 13, 2022 (pictured, Kathryn Hay rafter the Miss Australian Quest award ceremony)
Ms Hay allegedly assaulted her partner on numerous occasions by throwing a bowl of cereal at him, pushing him, punching and slapping his face and punching his upper body, according to documents filed with the court by the prosecution.
The prosecution alleges Ms Hay verbally abused Mr Richardson calling him ‘worthless and useless’, a ‘c***’, a ‘piece of s***’, ‘lazy’, ‘pathetic’, ‘dumb’ and ‘unfit to be a husband or a father.’
In 2002, Ms Hay became the first woman of Aboriginal descent to be elected in Tasmania
Ms Hay allegedly made a throat-slitting gesture at her husband, accused him of cheating and even told him to kill himself because ‘the world would be better off without him’.
Documents also show Ms Hay allegedly told people she wanted her husband to commit suicide because she would ‘get everything’.
The 47-year-old is also accused of controlling her husband’s actions and discouraged him from attending therapy or counselling.
She allegedly prevented Mr Richardson from seeing his parents, drafted correspondence to the Director of Public Prosecutions and arranged doctor’s appointments for him without his consent.
Ms Hay became the first woman of Aboriginal descent to be elected to the state division of Bass in 2002 alongside Jim Cox.
She did not recontest her seat in 2006 and retired from politics due to ‘personal reasons’.
However, in 2009 and 2012 Ms Hay made prospective runs for re-election but withdrew prior to the ballot.
Ms Hay is due to face court on May 29.
