Officer bashed at child’s birthday party
A 20-year-old awaits sentencing after admitting the bashing of a policeman at a fracas that broke out at a six-year-old’s birthday party.
Perenura Hurinui has become a serving prisoner for other offending since the November melee in Carnarvon Street, Linwood.
Sentencing by Christchurch District Court Judge David Saunders on Wednesday is expected to add a cumulative term to Hurinui’s existing jail time.
He pleaded guilty on Monday to charges of disorderly behaviour that was likely to cause violence to start, and assaulting a police officer with intent to injure.
Police prosecutor Glenn Henderson said Hurinui, who had been drinking at the party, became involved in an incident with another group of men. A fight broke out and the police were called.
When police arrived, they were confronted with aggressive and hostile members of the party, including Hurinui. He and other party members were yelling gang slang and barking like dogs — a call adopted by Mongrel Mob members and their associates.
When police tried to arrest several people, including Hurinui’s brother, Hurinui rushed forward.
He approached one policeman from the right side where the officer could not see him, and punched him several times in the head.
“The officer, who was caught completely unawares by this vicious attack, was knocked unconscious for about 10 min,” said Mr Henderson.
Hurinui then ran away and was caught by a police dog. While the dog held Hurinui by the leg, he tried to strangle the dog and gouge its eyes. He was then arrested.
The officer received some minor cuts and scrapes to his head, but he was also taken to hospital by ambulance for scans to find out the extent of his head injury. Police said at the time that he was expected to be off work for several weeks.
Hurinui said when interviewed that when he saw the police with his brother he “clicked” and tried to defend him.
The case has been able to proceed straight to sentencing because a recent probation report was already available.
Defence counsel Kiran Paima told the court that Hurinui had already completed a short rehabilitation course available in prison, but was looking for special release conditions to assist him after his jail term ends.
Category: News
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