A young Dutchman who threw a glass in a Queenstown bar that hit a young woman’s face says being stuck in New Zealand is "heavy punishment".
Appearing for sentencing in the Queenstown District Court yesterday, Luuk Maarten Van Egteren said he was lonely and missed playing football and other activities with his friends at home.
He had not intended to hurt anyone, and having to wait in New Zealand for his sentencing "feels like quite a heavy punishment to me".
Police say the 21-year-old was dancing with a young woman at Winnies bar about 1.45am on January 2, when he put his hands inside her pants.
She pushed him away and told a man nearby, who also gave the defendant a shove.
The defendant reacted by throwing a glass beer handle he was holding.
The heavy glass struck another young woman in the face, opening a 3cm gash in her cheek that began bleeding heavily.
Van Egteren, who lives in Edendale, initially denied assaulting the victim, but later admitted a charge of assault with a blunt instrument.
The 18-year-old victim, of Christchurch, said the incident had been unprovoked and "came out of the blue".
She was grateful the glass had not caused more serious damage but still felt anxious about going out at night.
Judge Russell Walker said letters of support for the defendant attested to his good character, describing the incident as an "aberration".
Although throwing the glass had been "reactive and spontaneous", an innocent young woman had been left with six stitches in her cheek and would probably have a permanent scar.
"Sadly, this sort of violence in nightclubs in Queenstown happens all too frequently," Judge Walker said.
Residents and visitors to the resort town were "sick and tired" of violence perpetrated by drunk people at night.
From a starting point of 14 months’ prison, he applied discounts for the defendant’s guilty plea, expression of remorse, youth and steps he had taken towards rehabilitation.
Given his youth, having to stay in the country to await sentence was a significant punishment in itself, and he reduced the final sentence to two months’ community detention to account for that.
Although a deportation liability notice was likely, Van Egteren wanted to return home as soon as possible anyway, he said.
He also ordered the defendant to pay the victim $12,500 in emotional harm reparation.
Also sentenced by Judge Walker yesterday were —
— Jonathan Dale Rees, 43, of Queenstown, drink-driving (907mcg), breaching alcohol interlock licence, Mahunga Dr, April 17, Auckland, 100 hours’ community work, 12 months’ supervision, disqualified 28 days, alcohol interlock provisions.
— Cayben Rapata-Brookland, 23, builder, of Hanleys Farm, aggravated disqualified driving, Glencoe Rd, October 1, Queenstown, 80 hours’ community work, 12 months’ supervision.
— Andrew Mark Lawrence, 50, tow truck driver, of Albert Town, using a telephone to offend, March 23-24, Wanaka, sentence deferred 12 months, court costs $143.
