Former Miss Australia, Kathryn Isobel Hay, Taken to Court for Emotionally Abusing Ex-Husband

Former Miss Australia, Kathryn Isobel Hay, has been found guilty of emotionally abusing and intimidating her ex-husband, Troy Shane Richardson.

Hay, who won the Miss Australia pageant in 1999, had pleaded not guilty to the charges, which spanned from 2014 to 2022 while they were together. However, after reviewing the evidence against her, the Launceston Magistrates Court found her guilty.

Richardson told the court that Hay was verbally and physically abusive, frequently punching him, threatening violence, and even hitting him with a shoe on multiple occasions.

The couple, who met at a dog show in 2009 and married in 2012, had a toxic relationship that worsened after the birth of their second child in 2013.

Richardson recalled one incident when Hay threw a bowl of cereal at him and called him “useless.” He also stated that she would often start public arguments to humiliate him.

In 2020, he alleged that she punched him in the eye, leaving him with a black eye. A year later, in 2021, she was arrested for slapping him after she accused him of driving too fast around a corner, which led to a family violence order against her.

Richardson further claimed that Hay pressured him to revoke the order, spending 79 minutes on the phone instructing him on what to write.
Hay’s Defense

While denying physical abuse, Hay admitted that their relationship had become toxic and that she occasionally used harsh language. She also alleged that Richardson was financially controlling, which he denied. 

Additionally, she stated that Troy might have sent incriminating messages himself, as he had access to her passwords and Facebook account.
Next Steps

The case has been adjourned, and Hay is scheduled to be sentenced on April 17th.