Boxer 'relished his power' over girls

By Anne Clarkson at the Rangiora Court House

An 18-year-old who was said to relish the power he had over two under 16-year-olds he was having sex with, was sent to prison for three years in the Christchurch District Court today.

Defence counsel Gilbert Hay said Faalele Toalii was raised in a household where violence was normal. He moved to New Zealand three years ago to improve his boxing skills.

He said Toalii was remorseful and anxious to makes amends, and acknowledged that violence was not acceptable.

In a court sitting at the Rangiora Court House, Toalii was sentenced on seven charges: unlawful sexual connection with two girls under 16, injuring with intent to injure, threatening to kill, two male-assaults-female charges, and another assault charge, which included varying levels of violence.

He said Toalii knew both the girls were under 16-year-olds but continued in relationships with them.

With one girl he was very violent, striking her across the face, punching her, threatening to kill her, threatening her with a knife, and on another occasion a screwdriver.

Judge Stephen Erber said Toalii did not have a drink or drug problem, and his probation report said he had limited insight, an inclination to violence and was a high risk of reoffending.

One of the girl’s victim impact reports said Toalii damaged her, and the relationship continued under continuous threat or fact of violence. She lied to friends when she had a black eye or bruises, and sometimes didn’t go to school because of the marks on her.

Judge Erber said Toalii relished having a sense of power over both young women, and his boxing skills made the assaults worse.

He sent him to prison for three years, and read him the first strike warning again.