18 year-old Blake Hollins-Apiata was sentenced to two years and 6 months prison for breaking the jaw of an off-duty policeman.
The assault happened after a party in the township of Waitara, which the offender and victim both attended.
Following sentencing in June, Hollins-Apiata filed an appeal claiming the sentence was ‘manifestly excessive’ and that he should have received home detention.
The appeal was heard in the High Court by Justice Helen McQueen who dismissed it, citing that although Hollins-Apiata had had a difficult background, the sentence was not ‘manifestly excessive’ given the gravity of the offending and the significant impact it had on the victim, who may not be able to return to frontline police duties.
And yet if a teen rapes four 15 yo girls he gets 9 months home detention.
Also the cop was off duty. Why even mention that he was a cop. It was a party and he was not at work.
They are sending a message.