Serious violence earns jail term

Ruapehu Bulletin, 24 June 1997, Page 10

Serious violence earns jail term

Jean Pierre Haitana, 25, labourer of Raetihi, was jailed for six months after pleading guilty to a charge of male assaplts female. In what was described by Judge Ross as an "horrendous assault", Court heard how Haitana had punched and kicked his estranged partner (and mother of his three children) over a halfhour period. Haitana had been in the habit of being dropped off at and picked up from his former partner's address by other family members so that he cOuld see his children. However, on the night in question, he was picked up and was invited to spend the night sleeping on a settee when the other family members failed to pick him up. Sometime later he was awoken when another male entered the house. This person-hurriedly left the house and a domestic dispute developed between Haitana and his former partner which escalated into a verbal and physical assault including threats to kill, lasting 30 minutes. The

victim finally managed to escape through a toilet window after locking herself in. Defence counsel, Paul Brown, said his client had since expressed "considerable remorse" at what had occurred and had already taken several steps towards controlling his jealousy and temper including attendance at an anger management course. He suggested a suspended sentence of imprisonment would be appropriate. Mr Brown said Haitana was seeking a reconciliation with his former partner and with help from other members of the family including the victim's father who was given permission to address the court about the relationship between his daughter and Haitana. He pleaded for a lenient non-custodial sentence so that the defendant and his daughter could work through their problems with the help of both families. However, Judge Ross said he was compelled to impose a prison sentence because of the serious violence that was involved over a prolonged period. "The summary of facts makes most distressing reading," he'said, "and if I do not sentence you to a

prison term I will be sending the wrong message to the community about domestic violence, including your children aged 7, 5 and 3, who were awakened and witnessed their mother being assaulted". In handing down the sixmonth prison sentence Judge Ross said he hoped the shortness of the sentence would allow attempts at reconciliation to continue during the 12-month period of supervision which was to follow. his release from prison.