Three jailed for assault inside prison
Three men who assaulted another inmate in the Christchurch Men’s Prison on March 31, were jailed in the Christchurch District Court on charges of injuring with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Defence counsel for 26-year-old Terence Junior Whaanga, Allister Davis, said the CCTV footage of the attack showed Whaanga punched the victim, and was the one to call off the attack.
Judge Jane Farish sentenced him to two years two months prison, and read him the first strike warning for repeat violent offenders.
Riapo Piripi Tipene’s defence counsel, Lee Lee Heah said the attack was not planned, but 19-year-old Tipene was the main offender.
Judge Farish said Tipene was already serving a prison sentence for a violent offence, and his pre-sentence report said he was at a high risk of re-offending in a serious violent way.
He had been given the first strike warning at an earlier appearance in court, and Judge Farish said the attack was motivated by the notion that the victim had disrespected Tipene’s gang culture.
Tipene punched the victim, dragged him into the yard, and when the man fell over kicked and stomped him in the head.
She sentenced him to two years five months added to the sentence of two years nine months he was serving.
Defence counsel Claire Yardley said Raymie Sulupo, 23, had finished his sentence while awaiting sentencing on this charge.
Judge Farish said he stomped and kicked the victim in the stomach while he was on the ground seemingly unconscious. Sulupo was also read the first strike warning and sentenced to two years five months prison.
Judge Farish said while the victim was unconscious Whaanga and Tipene laid down beside him, and it took nearly an hour before prison staff realised what had happened. The victim was taken to hospital. He was concussed and had bruises around his face and body, but was released back to the prison that night. He declined to write a victim impact statement for the court.
Category: Focus
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