Engineer who glassed brother not convicted

An Australian who glassed his brother during an argument in a Queenstown bar has been granted a discharge without conviction.

Kieren Patrick Russell (27), a civil engineer, was in the resort on a ski holiday with his brother, Hayden, on August 7 when he raised the pint glass he was holding and struck him in the face with it.

The pair, both drunk, had been arguing.

The glass broke on impact, causing a deep wound that needed stitches on one side of his brother’s face.

Russell told police he could remember neither the incident, nor what they were arguing about.

He appeared for sentencing in the Queenstown District Court yesterday on a charge of injuring Hayden Russell with intent to injure him.

Until yesterday his name had been suppressed.

Counsel Michael Walker said Russell felt deep remorse about his actions.

"Every time he speaks to his brother, he will see the scars he caused on his face."

He travelled abroad for his work, including to the United States, and a conviction would prevent him travelling to that country for five years.

Judge John Brandts-Giesen said Russell was "fuelled with alcohol and some emotion" when he had a "spontaneous explosion" of anger.

The attack was "extremely dangerous", and the consequences could have been more serious.

But he accepted the defendant’s remorse was genuine, he had no previous criminal history, and a conviction would be "career-limiting for a long time".

"You’re essentially a good man who’s done a bad thing."

He ordered him to make a $1000 donation to the Salvation Army, and to pay his brother $1200 in reparation for emotional harm.


 

 

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