A 28-year-old Christchurch man has been jailed for seven years and six months for a stabbing that arose from a misplaced sense of loyalty to the Mongrel Mob gang's Notorious chapter.
Shane Anaru Waterreus was today sentenced in Christchurch District Court after he was earlier found guilty by a jury of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
The incident arose from an argument on January 20 at a party at a Gloucester Street property over gang affiliations.
Crown prosecutor Sally Carter said Waterreus' misplaced sense of loyalty to a gang caused the violence, and was the focus behind what happened. She recommended he receive a minimum non-parole sentence.
Defence counsel Paul Norcross said Waterreus now accepted his wrong-doing. He said Waterreus had a disagreement with the complainant, blows were struck and he grabbed a knife.
Mr Norcross said it was no secret it was gang-related, but it was not an organised gang activity, and there was no gang support for what took place, and no gang support since.
Judge Michael Crosbie said Waterreus and another man had an argument about gang affiliations, and Waterreus took exception to the complainant's affiliation to the Crips.
Waterreus went to the kitchen and got a large knife and stabbed the victim causing wounds to his arms, chest, and the back of a leg.
The men were pulled apart and the victim was taken to hospital in a serious condition. He had damage to the left hand side of his chest, left lung, and has been left with limited use of his left arm.
Judge Crosbie said the probation report said Waterreus denied everything, but Mr Norcross said he now accepted responsibility.
The judge said there was no remorse or empathy in the report, and his assessed level for likely re-offending was medium with no motivation to address his violence issues.
The effects on the victim were so serious that death was a possibility, Judge Crosbie said. It was senseless gratuitous violence through misguided loyalty to a gang.
"In Christchurch, far too often we now see young men sentenced for serious crimes where gang relations are involved. There is a misguided belief that one is justified to deal out violence when someone won't change affiliations," he said.
He said Waterreus had one previous conviction for violence.
He recommended Waterreus should go to a violence prevention unit, and sentenced him to seven years and six months prison, but did not set a minimum non-parole period.
