Distress as sisters do battle

Ngakeiha Harmon, 52, was convicted of fighting in public and received a six-month suspended sentence in the Masterton District Court this week after pleading guilty to the charge.

When Ngakeiha Harmon saw her estranged sister in a Masterton shop she got into a fight with her about past grievances.

The 52-year-old Masterton woman was convicted of fighting in public and given a six-month suspended sentence by Judge Stephen Harrop in the Masterton District Court this week after pleading guilty.

Prosecutor Sergeant Jodi Lawrence told the court Harmon's 50-year-old sister tried to ignore her when she saw her in The Warehouse in Masterton on October 26. "The sister tried not to engage," she said.

After a string of abuse from Harmon, the other woman had tried to leave the store but Harmon "attacked" her in the carpark in front of other shoppers, Ms Lawrence said.

"[Harmon] punched her several times about the head and face. The victim defended herself somewhat but came off second best with cuts to mouth and lips. She was visibly upset and said she did not normally have anything to do with her sister."

Defence lawyer Louise Elder told the court her client was rammed with a trolley by her sister but had not been charged in relation to the fight.

"It was a chance meeting that day. There was no lasting harm."

Her client was a hard worker.

Judge Harrop said the incident not only caused distress to Harmon's sister, it was "distressing for the public to see two grown women fighting in this way".

The judge warned Harmon she could be resentenced if she was charged with another offence in the next six months.