A former Miss Australia and ex-Labor politician, Kathryn Isobel Hay, aged 49, has been convicted of emotional abuse and intimidation towards her former partner, Troy Shane Richardson. Hay, who won the crown in 1999 and was also Miss Tasmania that same year, served as a Labor member in the Tasmania parliament from 2002 to 2006, representing the Bass electorate.
At a recent hearing in Launceston Magistrates Court, Hay pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from her relationship with Richardson between 2014 and 2022 but was found guilty. The court established that she had committed various acts of verbal abuse, intimidation, and even physical violence against Richardson.
Richardson testified that he and Hay first met in 2009 at a dog show and married in 2012. However, he claimed their relationship soured around 2013, particularly after the birth of their second child. He recounted instances of Hay’s aggressive behaviour, including throwing a bowl of cereal at him and verbally degrading him in public. He described her actions as calculated attempts to undermine him, stating, “She would often make a point of having an argument in public just to make me feel low.”
In 2020, Richardson stated he suffered a black eye after Hay punched him, and a year later, she was arrested for allegedly slapping him, which resulted in a family violence order being placed against her. He further claimed that Hay attempted to manipulate him into revoking this order by instructing him on what to write during a lengthy phone call.
While Hay denied physically abusing Richardson, she conceded that their relationship had turned toxic and admitted to occasionally using foul language. She also suggested that Richardson might have been capable of fabricating messages to portray her in a negative light. Additionally, Hay accused Richardson of being financially controlling, a claim he refuted.
Following her conviction, Hay’s bail was continued, and she is scheduled for sentencing on April 17. The case has drawn considerable public interest, highlighting the complexities surrounding domestic abuse and the implications of emotional manipulation.
Support for individuals impacted by similar issues is available through the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).