Seci Vakacegu, 19, was sentenced in the Queenstown District Court court this week to community detention for his assault of the 17-year-old boy on June 2 last year.
He was convicted in November on a charge of assault with intent to injure after his application for a discharge without conviction was declined by Judge Russell Walker.
The court heard the complainant approached Vakacegu and his friends for an alcoholic drink and a vape on the day in question.
He was given a drink, but after consuming it, asked for another.
When the complainant was told he would not be given any more alcohol, a verbal altercation started, which prompted Vakacegu to punch the complainant twice in the face, knocking him to the ground.
When the complainant got up and tried to walk away, the defendant followed and punched him a third time, from behind, connecting with the right side of the complainant’s face and putting him to the ground again.
The complainant suffered concussion and multiple fractures of the bones around his right eye socket.
He was flown to Dunedin Hospital, where he had surgery to have a plate and six screws inserted to fix the most severe fracture.
In a victim impact statement, the complainant said his injuries had prevented him from taking part in the sports he used to enjoy, and he had lost time at school that could compromise his entry into tertiary education.
Judge Walker said the assault was aggravated by the targeting of the complainant’s head, the repeated strikes and the severe facial injuries caused.
Vakacegu, who was likely to receive a deportation liability notice, had been undergoing counselling at his church to address his alcohol issues.
Judge Walker made deductions for his guilty plea, youth and his expression of remorse to bring the nominal term of imprisonment to 10 months, which he converted to five months’ community detention.
He is also subject to 12 months’ supervision.
