July 22, 2011

No regrets from teen over bad assault

By Anne Clarkson at the Rangiora Court House

A 17-year-old showed no remorse or regret after attacking a Corrections Department staff member and has now begun a 25-month jail term.

Junior Puia was told by Judge Jane Farish that the community needed to be protected from him because he had serious convictions and a poor pre-sentence report.

The Christchurch District Court sentencing took place at the Rangiora Court House a month after Puia had admitted the assault. He has remained in custody while a report was prepared for the judge.

Defence counsel Serina Bailey said Puia needed intervention programmes and not a prison term.

She said?he was shocked to hear that a prison term was likely to be?the outcome?of the sentencing.

But Judge Farish said the charge of intentionally injuring the staff member was very serious. It was a premeditated and planned attack on the one person who was there to look after him while he was in custody.

The man was sitting down and Puia kicked him in the face and knocked him out. He then continued the attack with another inmate until other staff members intervened.

She said security footage showed how lucky the man was, and that he did not realise he had been knocked unconscious until he saw it on film.

Puia had motivated by anger. When he pleaded guilty the court was told he had attacked the staff member because he believed he was being unfairly treated.

Puia?s pre-sentence report had?negative comments in it, and Judge Farish told him that he would need to do rehabilitation programmes in prison before he could be released.