Lesbian lovers face jail for street attack
A LESBIAN couple launched a vicious attack on a fitness instructor colleague, leaving her with a broken cheek bone.
Kiran Hassan, 30, and Sylwia Tunajek, 28, both worked in the same fitness centre as their victim, Edyta Kolodziejczyk.
All three women had been friends while employed at KK Boxing in Nottingham but the relationship turned sour. The row climaxed when the lovers crossed paths with Miss Kolodziejczyk in the street and a fight broke out.
During the trial, Tunajek admitted spitting at the victim, while Hassan told how she punched her during the brawl in October 2013.
Nottingham Crown Court heard the rift began because Tunajek owed Miss Kolodziejczyk’s sister money. The sister, not named in court, had previously been in a relationship with Tunajek.
Giving evidence, the couple said that before the attack began Miss Kolodziejczyk had approached them in an aggressive manner and raised her fist. Hassan told the jury: ‘She [Miss Kolodziejczyk] raised her fist to punch me and that’s when I raised my fist and I punched Edyta.’
Hassan claimed she was then thrown against a car.
Tunajek, assisted in court by a Polish interpreter, was asked why she had spat at her former colleague. She said: ‘I did that and I know it was so bad but I was panicked and I wanted her to leave us alone, and thought if I did that, that might stop her.’
Faye Mellor, prosecuting, told the court: ‘In any account this was a nasty incident. She [ Miss Kolodziejczyk] suffered at least one serious injury. She was the victim of a nasty assault by two people who had been in the past friends and colleagues.’
On KK Boxing’s website, Hassan describes herself as the manager of the club. A post reads: ‘Boxing has been a huge passion of mine for as long as I can remember.’ She also describes her ‘love’ of martial arts.
Tunajek, who lists herself as a Zumba dancing instructor, advertises her services online. A post reads: ‘I love teaching Zumba classes … Every class feels like a party!’
Hassan, of West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire and Tunajek, of Nottingham, both denied a charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm.
The jury found both defendants guilty yesterday. Recorder Richard Swain told them: ‘As you know these are serious offences … I give no indication that the sentence will be anything other than a custodial sentence.’ The women are due to be sentenced on June 10.
‘Serious injury’