A woman who claims she was defending her pregnant sister from attackers when she assaulted another woman was fined $5,000 or 30 days in jail by Senior Resident Magistrate Glen Brown when she appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday.

Melissa Coley appeared in court to answer to a charge of unlawful wounding.

Guilty with explanation

The court was told that during a dispute, Coley assaulted the complainant, causing injuries. She pleaded guilty with explanation to the allegations.

Coley told the court that her pregnant sister was involved in an argument with the complainant's sister. She said the complainant joined the argument and a scuffle developed. She added that when she went to separate them, the complainant pushed her.

The complainant, however, disputed this claim.