13 Feb 2017

Guilty plea after Muslim woman abused in Huntly

5:48 pm on 13 February 2017

A woman has pleaded guilty to assault following a racial attack on a Muslim woman in Huntly on Saturday.

Megan Walton in the Hamilton District Court.

Megan Walton in the Hamilton District Court. Photo: RNZ / Andrew McRae

Megan Walton pleaded guilty to two charges of assault and one charge of behaving in an insulting manner in a public place.

The charges were laid after Muslim New Zealander Mehpara Khan posted video of the incident on social media.

Police told the court Ms Walton, a 27-year-old from Auckland, came out of public toilets and started racially abusing Ms Khan.

A screenshot of the video Mehpara Khan posted to Twitter.

A screenshot of the video Mehpara Khan posted to Twitter, with Megan Walton seen on the right. Photo: Supplied

She attempted to throw cans of alcohol at her and two attempted punches were blocked.

A charge of assault with a weapon was reduced to assault.

Walton was granted bail and will reappear in Hamilton District Court on Wednesday.