The man who took it upon himself to dish out street justice
to convicted paedophile Trevor Hall says he would do it again
if given the chance.
Unrepentant Danny Te Amo Walker, 46, who whacked Hall outside
Tauranga District Court on December 4 - the day Hall was due
to be sentenced on four charges of indecent assault on a
child - pleaded guilty to a charge of assault in the same
court yesterday.
He was fined $175 and court costs of $132.89.
Outside court last night, Walker told the Bay of Plenty
Times he wasn't proud of his actions.
"Some people have been patting me on the back and calling me
a hero but I don't want a pat on the back, as what I did was
a spur of the moment thing which I'm not proud of.
"But if you ask me would I do it again, if I had the chance,
I'd say 'hell yeah, he deserved it'.
"But I wasn't there to deck anyone I was there to support my
brother [who was in court being sentenced on unrelated
matters]. I didn't go out there to punch the guy [Hall] but I
was so angry the judge didn't lock him up."
Walker said he is a father of four daughters and just "saw
red".
"I have four kids and my heart went out to that poor lady and
her daughter. I just snapped.
"I wasn't thinking about anything else, I was totally focused
on the lady and her little girl and I was so disgusted he
[Hall] tried to downplay what he had done to them."
Walker said he'd had sleepless nights since thinking about
Hall's victims and how they were coping with something "they
will have to carry with them for the rest of their lives".
Tauranga police Senior Sergeant Cam Anderson said police and
the justice system were the appropriate agencies for dealing
with child sex offenders.
"People may have frustrations but it's not wise or advisable
to take it out on these offenders," he said.
In court, Walker admitted he attacked Hall not long after the
sex offender walked from court on bail after Judge Peter
Rollo adjourned sentencing to December 17.
Walker's victim was left with a bleeding and swollen top lip
and the assault was caught on camera by a TV3 cameraman at
court for Hall's sentencing hearing.
Walker was arrested the same day by a police officer after
locating him near the Work and Income office. Walker said he
handed himself in.
Judge Josephine Bouchier asked Walker why he had "whacked"
Hall. He replied: "I had a bad day and while I was waiting
for my brother's sentencing to come up I heard what happened
to that mother and her little girl and I was so disgusted.
I've got kids of my own.
"I didn't go to court intending to hit anyone. I think I was
so angry at the judge, as I went there to support my brother
and after I went outside and couldn't come back inside the
court room because it was all full up, I was really angry ...
It just happened. I don't go out to hit people."
Walker asked for a suspended sentence from Judge Bouchier.
He told the judge he had been undertaking voluntary work
helping disabled people three times a week and working at the
Welcome Bay community gardens, and up until last week was
also doing volunteer work at the local Salvation Army store.
Judge Bouchier noted Walker had two prior violence-related
convictions among others for burglary and said a suspended
sentence was not appropriate.
"Mr Walker, no matter what you think about Mr Hall it doesn't
entitle you to deck him," she said.
- By Sandra Conchie of the Bay of Plenty Times
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