A Qantas flight attendant who punched her 50-year-old former colleague after discovering she was sleeping with her ex-partner was “best friends” before their relationship turned violent.
Arabella Lansdown was sentenced in the Brisbane District Court on Wednesday after pleading guilty to hitting Paula Graham at her home on November 26, 2022, when she discovered her partner had slept with her ex-partner Jackson Martin.
However, according to a close friend of the trio, the women’s friendship was more than just work colleagues before their fallout.
“They were best friends,” the source revealed to Daily Mail Australia.
“For a while they did everything together, I wouldn’t say they were just colleagues because that’s not accurate.”
Arabella Lansdown and her on-off boyfriend Jackson Martin
Arabella Lansdown (right) was sentenced in Brisbane District Court on Wednesday after pleading guilty to hitting Paula Graham (left)
The source added that until recently Ms Lansdown and Mr Martin, 26, were still a couple.
“Until very recently, they were still in a relationship, even though they have had a toxic relationship that has lasted for years.”
Both women worked as flight attendants for Qantas and Lansdown considered his victim a “confidante”.
The single blow tying caused fractures to Ms Graham’s cheekbone, upper jaw and eye socket.
Ms Graham, who no longer works for the airline, had to undergo surgery in which titanium plates and screws were inserted into her face.
The court heard Lansdown confronted Ms Graham at her home after discovering she had slept with Mr Martin.
Despite initial denials, the woman admitted to having sex and apologized.
In her victim impact statement, Ms Graham said she still suffered numbness and ongoing psychological problems after the attack.
Paula Graham had to have surgery and titanium plates and screws inserted into her face after an attack by her former friend Arabella Lansdown.
Women became best friends while working at Qantas
But Judge Loury noted that the same woman did not wish Lansdown harm, asking the court not to impose a harsh penalty.
“She writes: ‘Let this (the victim impact statement) and your own stress be punishment enough,'” Judge Loury said.
Defense barrister Martin Longhurst argued the injuries in the case were “bordering on” an assault causing actual bodily harm.
“I don’t think they are borderline, I don’t think you can say that,” Judge Loury told Mr Longhurst.
“This woman had to undergo surgery to repair these injuries…these are significant injuries, it is significant that it was a single blow that caused the injuries.”
“She is responsible for the injuries, whether she intended them or not.”
Lansdown pleaded guilty Wednesday to a single charge of grievous bodily harm.
The court heard Lansdown was “well regarded” by her colleagues, who said her actions were “totally out of character”.
Arabella Lansdown and Jackson Martin would be together until March 5, 2024
Both women worked as flight attendants for Qantas and Lansdown (left) believed Ms Graham (right) considered her victim a “confidante”.
Mr Longhurst said his client began an Indigenous internship with Qantas while he was in high school and worked as a flight attendant for five years.
He told the court Lansdown risked losing her job as a flight attendant if convicted because she would not be issued an Air Security Investment Card required for domestic travel as part of her job .
Qantas had retained Lansdown’s employment and she could still work for the airline, but not on the planes, the court was told.
Mr Longhurst said Lansdown had suffered prejudice as a child and had consulted a psychologist regarding “difficulties” in accepting the end of the relationship with his ex-partner.
His client also offered compensation and wrote a letter of remorse to the court.
Judge Loury finally sentenced the 24-year-old young man to an 18-month prison sentence, but suspended for two years.
Lansdown was also ordered to pay $2,000 in compensation to Ms Graham within four months.