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Assault victim wanted attacker jailed
A man who fell through a window after he was hit in the face with a vodka bottle, told the court he wanted the offender to be put in prison.
At Christchurch District Court, Adrian James Hopkinson, 31, was sentenced on a charge of assault with a weapon, but was discharged on a charge of wounding with intent to injure.
At an earlier session in court the victim, who was left with a scarred face, said he did not agree with a home detention sentence with reparation, and said: ?My face now looks like this because of you. You are a psychopath. You need to be behind bars like an animal.?
When told Hopkinson was offering an emotional harm reparation payment, he told the judge: ?I would rather give the money to charity and see him go behind bars.?
Defence counsel Denise Johnstone said there was one blow with the bottle, but with terrible consequences.
Judge David Saunders said on February 25 Hopkinson went to the victim?s flat where he also used to live. He argued with the victim, lost control, and hit him with the vodka bottle. That caused damage, but the victim also lost his balance and went through a window.
He said the victim impact report said the man had considerable injuries, scarring, pain, and suffering. He had now lost trust and respect in Hopkinson who had been a flatmate.
Judge Saunders said the victim did not wish to participate in a restorative justice hearing.
Hopkinson had modest previous convictions, he said.
He ordered a reparation payment of $621 for the victim?s damaged clothing, and $1400 for emotional harm.
He sentenced Hopkinson to 12 months prison, with leave to apply for home detention if a suitable address was approved.
He told Hopkinson that if he got home detention he would also be assessed for anger management and stopping violence programmes.
At the sentencing today the victim declined to read his victim impact report to the court, and sat silently through the session. Hopkinson apologised to him after he had been sentenced.
