Moment couple enraged by their transgender neighbour trimming eucalyptus trees overhanging into her garden hurl branches into her pool and allegedly call her a ‘fairy’
- Robert and Amanda Marshall, 49 and 44, flew into rage during a gardening row
- Couple angered Kate Vovro had trimmed eucalyptus trees overhanging garden
- Video shows them throwing branches into Ms Vovro’s garden in Verwood, Dorset
- Both denied the charges, and trial will resume on October 30 after adjournment
By James Wood For Mailonline
Published: 08:34 EDT, 25 September 2019 | Updated: 10:56 EDT, 25 September 2019
This is the moment a couple allegedly abused their transgender neighbour and hurled tree branches into her swimming pool during an angry row.
Robert and Amanda Marshall, 49 and 44, are said to have flown into a rage in August last year after discovering Kate Vovro, 51, had trimmed eucalyptus trees that overhung her back garden in Verwood, Dorset.
The pair are alleged to have called their neighbour, who is legally known as known as Paul Hockey, a ‘fairy’ and ‘a gutless freak’ during the argument.
The Marshalls are alleged to have called their transgender neighbour Kate Vovro (left and right), who is legally known as known as Paul Hockey, a ‘fairy’ and a ‘freak’ during the argument
Robert and Amanda Marshall, 49 and 44, (pictured) are said to have flown into a rage in August last year after discovering Kate Vovro, 51, had trimmed eucalyptus trees that overhung into her back garden in Verwood, Dorset
Amanda Marshall, 44, (right) denied a charge of causing her neighbour harassment, alarm or distress on Friday. Robert Marshall (left) pleaded not guilty to the same charge and one of causing criminal damage to a fence panel
Miss Vovro retreated indoors and recorded the pair from a bedroom window after which Mrs Marshall can be seen throwing tree branches into her outdoor pool.
In the footage Mrs Marshall can be heard calling her neighbour an ‘a*******’.
Mr Marshall, 49, is also recorded shouting out ‘come and see, I’ve got something for you’ while repeatedly kicking the timber fence that borders their £400,000 detached homes.
The Marshalls have gone on trial on charges of harassment and criminal damage which they deny.
Miss Vovro, who runs a sandblasting business and carries out his work as Mr Hockey, also appeared at Poole Magistrates’ Court on Friday. She appeared in the court listing under her legal name, but attended court as Miss Vovro – who was also mentioned in the listing.
Giving evidence, she said: ‘Calling me a gutless freak makes me feel insulted.
‘Why am I a freak? Because I dress as a woman?
‘Lots of men would like to do what I do but they don’t have the guts so I fail to see how I can be called that.
‘I felt scared and locked myself upstairs in my bedroom while filming them.
‘They were shouting and hollering at me and to my mind calling me a fairy was transphobic.’
The row began over Miss Vovro’s decision to trip eucalyptus trees that overhung into her back garden in Verwood, Dorset. Pictured left is Miss Vovro’s home, and right the Marshall’s home
The unseemly incident was witnessed by a couple who had been staying at the address as Ms Vovro rents her spare room out on Airbnb (pictured left, the Marshall’s home, and right, Ms Vovro’s home)
Giving evidence in court, Miss Vovro, who runs a mobile sandblasting business, said that being called a ‘gutless freak’ made her feel insulted (The Marshall’s home is pictured right, and Miss Vovro’s is pictured in the background)
The unseemly incident was witnessed by a couple who had been staying at the address as Miss Vovro rents her spare room out on Airbnb.
The guests left in the aftermath and were given a full refund by Miss Vovro.
The Marshalls denied being transphobic and accused Miss Vovro of trying to ‘set up’ the incident that happened in August 2018.
The court heard they had accused Miss Vovro of previously trying to poison their eucalyptus trees.
Jonathan Morrissey, defending, put it to the complainant: ‘This entire case is nothing to do with you being dressed as a woman.
‘This is about you exercising your rights and doing what you want, when you want and nobody is going to contradict you.
‘I would put it to you that you knew exactly what you were doing because you set this whole thing up.’
Miss Vovro denied this.
Mrs Marshall denies a charge of causing her neighbour harassment, alarm or distress.
Mr Marshall has pleaded not guilty to the same charge and one of causing criminal damage to a fence panel.
Their trial was adjourned by magistrates and will resume on October 30.
The Marshalls were released on bail on the condition they do not contact Miss Vovro.
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