Stuff Digital Edition

Man too intoxicated to recall assaults

Matthew Littlewood

A man who assaulted two people on the same night has been told by the judge that he is at a crossroads

Austin Hurst, 19, had previously pleaded guilty to counts of common assault when he appeared for sentencing in the Timaru District Court yesterday.

The first of the two July 9 assaults occurred in the Briscoes car park in Timaru after Hurst, according to Judge Dominic Dravitzki, approached the complainant and ‘‘made accusations’’ the complainant had ‘‘intentions’’ towards Hurst’s girlfriend. Hurst punched the complainant in the face.

Later that night, Hurst approached a driver of another car on Wai-iti Rd and made accusations about how the complainant was looking at his girlfriend. Hurst punched the second complainant in the side of the face.

Hurst later told police he was intoxicated he did not recall the events.

Hurst’s defence counsel Matthew Bonniface told Judge Dravitzki that in the months since the assault, Hurst had made attempts to turn his life around.

Judge Dravitzki told Hurst the two assaults were ‘‘sustained and unprovoked’’.

‘‘It’s quite apparent you were significantly affected by alcohol, and it’s equally clear you were spoiling for a fight.’’

Judge Dravitzki said the victim impact so statement from the first complainant mentioned that he was now ‘‘uncomfortable going to places he used to enjoy’’. He also said the cultural report raised some issues.

‘‘You’ve had an extremely difficult and chaotic childhood, you don’t have a lot of family support, but you do have some employment, and that has got to be positive.

‘‘A sentence of supervision would enable some oversight for rehabilitative steps. You are at a crossroads in your life, if you don’t change tack, you are likely to end up here on a continued basis,’’ the judge said.

Hurst was sentenced to nine months’ supervision, and two months’ community detention, with provisions he attend assessment for alcohol and drug abuse and not consume alcohol or non-prescribed drugs.

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en-nz

2021-12-04T08:00:00.0000000Z

2021-12-04T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://fairfaxmedia.pressreader.com/article/281560884077947

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