district court logo

R v Tautalafua [2018] NZDC 18170

Published 24 May 2019

Sentencing — grievous bodily harm with intent to cause grievous bodily harm — R v Taueki [2005] 3 NZLR 372 — R v Isaaka [2014] NZHC 2608 — Sentencing Act 2002. The defendant appeared for sentence after being found guilty of grievous bodily harm with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. He was a party to a group assault on the victim. The offending arose when there was a confrontation between two groups of men. The defendant punched the victim to the ground, where he was attacked by several others. The defendant then fought a person who was attempting to come to the aid of the victim. The defendant was thereby assisting those who were attacking the victim and intending to cause the victim serious harm. Reviewing the authorities and the defendant's violence-related previous convictions, the Court set a start point of four years six months. The Court allowed an 8- month discount for time spent on electronic bail, resulting in a final sentence of 3 years 10 months. Judgment Date: 29 August 2018.