Backpackers jailed; time to 'up the ante'

Jesper Moe Jensen, of Denmark (left), and Frank Johan Stoel, of the Netherlands, in the...
Jesper Moe Jensen, of Denmark (left), and Frank Johan Stoel, of the Netherlands, in the Queenstown District Court yesterday.
Two young European backpackers begin their prison sentence today as punishment for beating a man and with a message from the judge to other foreign visitors that violence on Queenstown's streets will not be tolerated.

Jesper Moe Jensen (21), of Denmark, and Frank Johan Stoel (20), of the Netherlands, both unemployed, appeared in the dock together in the Queenstown District Court yesterday.

They had each admitted a joint charge of assault with intent to injure and were jailed for a month.

They will then be deported.

The court was told Mark Alexander Hansen was walking in Shotover St, at 4.17am on April 4, when Stoel charged forward and punched and kicked him.

Jensen joined in and also punched him.

The victim fell to the ground where he was kicked in the chest and punched several times more in the head before Stoel aimed six full-armed swings at him.

Mr Hansen's injuries included a swollen upper lip and a scratch above an eye.

Judge Dominic Flatley said he had to ask if fines and reparations were adequate for alcohol-fuelled assaults by overseas visitors in Queenstown, as the penalties did not seem to stop the crime from happening.

"I don't understand why young people of good character from overseas come to New Zealand, go out, get drunk and then beat other people up," the judge said.

Perhaps it was time for the court to "up the ante", as someone was going to get seriously injured, or killed, he said.

Judge Flatley said he considered the need to denounce the conduct and deter others from committing the same offence.

He said he also considered both defendants' youth and foreign nationality.

Jensen and Stoel should return home and their impact on the New Zealand taxpayer should be limited. However, the "short, sharp shock" of a brief sentence of imprisonment for both of them and the message it sent was appropriate, the judge said.

"It's a privilege to travel and work in New Zealand, but young people like you are ruining the reputation of Queenstown, which is supposed to be renowned for its beauty.

"It's not supposed to be the capital of street violence."

Defence counsel Steven Rollo told Judge Flatley Jensen's culpability was less, as he threw one punch which connected with the victim. Jensen had a "brain explosion" and had no recollection of why he hit the victim, Mr Rollo said.

Jensen was extremely intoxicated on the night of the offence and he was now remorseful, Mr Rollo said.

Jensen's brother was killed while serving in the Danish military in Afghanistan two years ago. The defendant suffered depression, which affected his studies and he now felt isolated in New Zealand, as his travelling companions returned home without him.

Jensen wanted to return to his family in Denmark as soon as possible.

Stoel's lawyer, Phena Byrne, said the offence was another example of intoxication in the early hours. Stoel could offer no explanation of why he continued to strike in what was actually a short altercation and was completely out of character for the "polite, gentle man". He wanted to return to the Netherlands.

Jensen and Stoel were sentenced to one month in prison each and were to serve 14 days. Both were ordered to pay reparation of $500 for emotional harm.

 

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