After a day and night of heavy drinking following their grandfather’s unveiling, a Gore man got into a fight with his brother, fractured his eye socket, broke his nose and gave him two black eyes.
Cartwright Marcus Tamou, 25, was sentenced to 100 hours’ community work and one year’s supervision, in the Gore District Court this week, for punching his brother in the face last month.
The court heard Tamou and his victim had been drinking together all day on Friday, October 10.
Shortly after midnight they got into an argument that escalated into a physical fight, and the defendant punched his brother in the face.
The victim was found by police unconscious in the hallway of Tamou’s home, while the defendant was found asleep in bed.
As a result of the assault the beaten brother had a fractured eye socket, broken nasal bones, two black eyes, a bleeding nose and a split lip.
In explanation Tamou said his brother had been disrespecting his partner and home and he had told him to stop, before losing his temper.
Defence counsel Tanya McCallum said her client had no recollection of the assault.
She said the issue between the brothers was resolved and the victim did not wish for the matter to be before the court.
Judge Mark Williams said he had read a letter from the victim saying he did not want Tamou to be prosecuted.
Tamou works fulltime at the Mataura freezing works, is a father of two and has previously been before the court.
After the sentencing, Tamou’s brother, sitting in the public gallery, asked the judge if he would now be legally allowed to see the offender again.
The judge replied that now the matter was closed, the brothers would be free to reconnect.
ella.scott-fleming@alliedmedia.co.nz
