A host father who assaulted his 15-year-old Chinese exchange pupil, the video of which was posted on the Internet, was convicted in Alexandra yesterday and ordered to pay $1000 emotional harm reparation.
The man appeared before Judge Stephen O'Driscoll in the Alexandra District Court yesterday.
Arthur Dean Martin (49), employed, of Hokitika, admitted a charge of assaulting Ziyu Qian at his Hokitika home on July 4.
The police summary of facts stated Martin became angry with the victim and punched him about the head before he was restrained by his wife.
As a result of the assault, the victim received a cut lip, bruised ear, and sore ribs.
Before the incident, the victim had been engaged in an online phone conversation with his father in China, allowing the father to record the incident when it occurred.
The recording, which was later circulated on the Internet website YouTube, includes Martin shouting at the victim and being told to stop by his wife.
Education providers throughout New Zealand were shocked and outraged by the incident, since more than 15,000 international pupils were attending secondary schools around the country.
Martin admitted the charge in court yesterday.
The matter was transferred to the Alexandra court because Martin was working in the area.
Judge O'Driscoll said it was difficult to know the rights and wrongs of what occurred between Martin and his victim during the months leading up to the incident.
The victim had been living with the family for five months before the assault.
Martin was ordered to pay reparation to the victim within seven days.
"The victim was vulnerable due to his age and the fact he was an international student in a foreign country. You [Martin] were in a position of trust and it is disappointing to see something like this occurred," Judge O'Driscoll said.
