Queenstown District Court

A BRAZILIAN man who ‘‘lost control’’ and attacked his boss with a metal bar has been sentenced to community work.

Appearing before Judge John BrandtsGiesen in the Queenstown District Court this week, Samuel Lima da Cruz (27), of Queenstown, admitted charges of assaulting Luiz Ribeiro jun with a weapon and intentionally damaging a vehicle owned by Mr Ribeiro in the resort on May 25.

Judge BrandtsGiesen said the defendant had been employed by Mr Ribeiro, a mechanic, in his workshop for ‘‘some time’’.

On May 22, he was told he would be fired. The reasons for that were not explained in the police summary of facts.

He was told to return his uniform on May 24, and that he would receive his wages the following day.

When the defendant returned his uniform on May 25, he was told by the victim he would receive his wages that day.

But later the defendant went to the victim’s house, where he was with his 8yearold son, and said he ‘‘wanted his money now’’.

The victim told him the money had been released, presumably by a bank transfer system, but ‘‘he could not control the bank’’.

Lima da Cruz shouted at the victim, demanding the money, as he had ‘‘bills to pay’’, then picked up the metal bar and struck the victim on the left thigh. He then used the bar to ‘‘jab’’ at the victim’s abdomen area, striking him again.

When the victim kicked the bar out of Lima da Cruz’s hand, he punched the victim several times, landing one punch on his mouth with a closed fist.

When the victim and his son retreated inside the workshop, Lima da Cruz then damaged the victim’s vehicle.

The victim received minor bruising and a small cut to his lip.

Judge BrandtsGiesen said Lima da Cruz admitted he ‘‘lost control’’ .

The victim’s main concern was that his son was present during the incident. While Mr Ribeiro had not suffered any longterm physical or emotional effects, his son had been ‘‘less secure in relation, especially to strangers who turn up in their vehicles’’.

On both charges, Lima da Cruz was sentenced to 120 hours’ community work and ordered to pay reparation of $264.50.

Judge BrandtsGiesen told the defendant to ‘‘get your temper under control’’.

‘‘Because you’ll get into more trouble in Brazil if you carry on the way you have.’’