Supermarket 'pressured' over Liberal Senator Mary Jo Fisher

Candice Keller | AdelaideNow | 1 September 2011

A PERSON acting for Liberal Senator Mary Jo Fisher pressured a supermarket to drop shoplifting and assault charges against her, a court has heard.

Fisher, 48, appeared in the Adelaide Magistrate's Court this morning charged with theft and assault during an alleged incident at Frewville Foodland last December.

Opening the trial, police prosecutor Sergeant Brendon Beh said Senator Fisher allegedly left the store after only paying $7.50 for $92 worth of groceries. It was alleged she assaulted a store security guard, Cathryn Groot, who confronted her in the supermarket's car park after she was questioned inside the store by management. Senator Fisher allegedly pushed Ms Groot away and shut the driver's door of her car on Ms Groot's arm several times.

Sgt Beh told the court Senator Fisher told police called to the supermarket that she realised she did not have enough money to pay for all the goods so she paid for some and got into her car to get more money. Senator Fisher also told the police she did not let Foodland staff know what she was doing when she went to the car. Later that night she went back to Foodland and paid for the items.

Sgt Beh told the court that Ms Groot was the prosecution's key eyewitness because CCTV footage of the incident had been erased and would not be tendered as evidence.