A pair of sisters from Quesnel have been found guilty of unlawfully causing bodily harm for a January attack on a Prince George woman they suspected of trying to start an affair with one of the two's boyfriends.
Heading into the B.C. Supreme Court trial, held last week, Samone and Maranda Godwin had each been facing six charges on the matter, including the more serious charges of attempting to choke to overcome resistance and unlawful confinement or imprisonment.
The complainant, Megan Halstrom, had alleged they had burst into her home and soon had her in a headlock and were choking her, kicking her and pulling on her hair while yelling at her, saying they had found her phone number on the boyfriend's cellphone.
After about 45 minutes of this, she said she convinced one of them to look at her cellphone and when they found no corresponding phone number from the man, they let her go and apologized.
But in reaching his decision Thursday, Justice Ron Tindale concluded she had actually let the two into her house and, when matters escalated, one of them grabbed at her face and the other hit her with the back of her hand in a short scuffle.
Tindale found Halstrom's testimony unconvincing as she provided little detail and often claimed she did not remember in response to questions from defence lawyers.
Conversely, he also did not agree with Samone Godwin's testimony that they had simply dropped by to pick up clothing for one of the woman's daughters from a previous relationship with their brother and that she struck the woman only after she swore at one of her other daughters.
Rather, Tindale found they had shown up at the home specifically to confront the woman over the boyfriend.
Sentencing will occur at a later date but Crown is seeking time served plus probation for Samone Godwin, who had remained in custody on the matter, and probation for Maranda Godwin.
