Cattle prod used on victim of night time raid
File image. © Andrew Bardwell
A 2am raid by two men who used a cattle prod to try to collect a debt was described as “outright stupidity” by the judge who jailed each of them for more than five years.
The pair, who went on the raid with an associate who has never been identified, wore no disguises and were known to the victim.
They apparently relied on threats to save them from prosecution after trying to get $3000 for arrears of rent, and then took a car.
But the victim was soon showing the police the red marks on his arms and thigh from the repeated use of the cattle prod.
Piripi Wiremu Raroa, 30, and Aaron Nathan McDonald, 31, were found guilty at a Christchurch District Court jury trial on charges of armed burglary and appeared before Judge Gary MacAskill for sentence today.
Crown prosecutor Nicola Pointer called for a starting point of seven to eight years before their sentences were adjusted for the circumstances, but defence counsel argued for less and the judge agreed.
He said the early morning intimidation and the use of the cattle prod had been degrading for the victim, but he also referred to “the outright stupidity that pervaded this incident”.
Counsel for McDonald, Tony Garrett, said the incident was “probably all about cannabis, synthetic or otherwise,” and was not premeditated. The pair had left a text trail that a blind man could follow.
Counsel for Raroa, Elizabeth Bulger, said her client still denied using the cattle prod, in spite of the verdict. She asked for a sentence reduction for his long time on remand on electronic bail, at his mother’s house where she had become ill and had died.
Judge MacAskill said he was distinguishing between the cattle prod – an implement that delivered a shock like an electric fence – and a taser which caused incapacitation and great pain. The item had been referred to as a taser by some witnesses at the trial.
He said the trio went to the sleep-out of the victim in Riccarton about 2am on August 27, 2014, apparently to get arrears of rent though the landlord told the court he had not asked them to get involved.
Raroa used the cattle prod several times. McDonald removed the man’s wallet and car keys, and kept the car keys. The third intruder threatened the victim with “a boot ride”. Someone then took his car.
Judge MacAskill said the shocks given to the victim were not incapacitating. He had some superficial skin reddening from the shocks, and minor injuries from being punched.
He added to both men’s jail terms for their bad criminal histories and unpaid fines, and jailed Raroa for five years three months, and McDonald for five years six months.
He also ordered that the cattle prod, later found in McDonald’s possession at Waimate, be destroyed.
Category: News
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