Community sentence for assault on partner

IT was a sad end to a relationship, counsel Steve Turner said at the sentencing of a 26yearold man in the Dunedin District Court yesterday.

Brett Lawrence Murphy, employed, of Dunedin, had been convicted of assaulting a female, his then partner, and intentionally damaging her laptop computer and an internal door, early on January 20.

Murphy acknowledged he let himself down on the night, Mr Turner told Judge Greg HollisterJones.

On the day of his ‘‘very early’’ guilty plea, Murphy paid into a court account $1200 reparation for the laptop.

He had also paid $300 for repairs to the broken door and, having selfreferred to Stopping Violence, he had completed 10 sessions ‘‘and has 15 to go’’, Mr Turner said.

Murphy acknowledged an alcohol problem. Since the incident, he had refrained from alcohol.

Earlier this week, he made available to the court $500 for emotional harm reparation, ‘‘an indication of his true remorse’’.

He had been willing to undergo restorative justice, but that did not take place, Mr Turner said.

Reviewing the facts, Judge HollisterJones said Murphy had been drinking with his partner and others on the night.

Murphy drank to excess and became jealous. In the early hours, after both were at home, an argument developed and Murphy became physical.

He pushed the victim, causing her to fall, kicked at her stomach and pushed her head towards the floor holding her by the hair.

She managed to struggle free. In the living room, Murphy punched the door several times, causing a hole.

And he threw the victim’s laptop computer across the room, resulting in it hitting a table and breaking.

The victim’s injuries included a black eye, bruising and swelling to her left cheek, bruising on her arms and pain to her left rib area.

The judge said aggravating features were Murphy kicked at the victim’s stomach and applied force to her head.

He also had a 2015 conviction for assaulting the same victim, the judge noted.

To his credit was his remorse, having taken care of reparation and that he had started dealing with his issues.

Murphy was sentenced to six months’ community detention (curfewed 7pm6am daily), 150 hours’ community work, nine months’ supervision and is to pay $1200 laptop reparation and $500 emotional harm reparation.