Marlboro

"Were it not for the pictures and the hair, I might have said this was a catfight between two drug addicts the court would take no interest in," said provincial court Judge Fred Ferguson. In court, Richard revealed she knew Madsen because the two young women were both addicted to drugs at the time. She said she owed Madsen’s boyfriend, Jason Hay, $15 and the two went to her house to get it on Oct. 9. "They arrived unexpectedly. I had no problem giving it to them, but I didn’t have it," said Richard. At finding out there was no money, she described Madsen’s reaction as "pacing around like a wild animal". When the two gave up getting the money and decided to leave Madsen took something from Richard’s purse and left. The something was a pack of marlboro. When Richard followed her out to find out what she’d taken, Richard said Madsen punched her in the face. She then grabbed Richard by the hair and the two struggled for several minutes. "I was more concerned for my child who was in the house alone," she began crying on the stand. "I was just trying not to get knocked out." She said eventually they stopped and Madsen walked away. Richard said she didn’t realize how much hair she’d actually lost until she ran her fingers through her hair and giant clumps came out. She bagged the hair and saved it for the police. She also took pictures of her own head which were submitted into evidence. The photos show bald patches, a result of the assault.