One-punch killer recruited to late night bars campaign
POLICE have recruited a former sailor who killed a stranger with a punch to the head on a booze-fuelled night out to testify to the dangers of late night opening hours.
Grenville McFarland, 30, was jailed for the manslaughter of Tarun Asthana, who he killed with a blow to the head in November 2013.
Police approached McFarland to give evidence to the Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority that bars should close earlier to prevent similar tragedies.
He partially blamed Asthana’s death on late night opening hours, and said he had suffered the loss of his career in the Navy, experienced financial hardship, ‘‘as well as emotional scarring, guilt, depression and anxiety all as a result of my actions’’.
But Asthana’s mother Yvette said McFarland should take responsibility for his actions rather than blame late night opening hours. ‘‘He has to learn to take ownership for his actions. He absolutely should take responsibility for his actions. I pray that he takes ownership.’’
Tarun’s friend Eddie Lo said closing times were irrelevant in Tarun’s death.
‘‘Maybe he would have been in a different place, and maybe Tarun would be alive but it’s not about the opening hours, it’s about New Zealand’s drinking culture,’’ he said.
Friend Tristan HansenBeadle agreed, saying McFarland was ‘‘playing the blame game’’. ‘‘He’s punishing an entire industry for his own actions. It comes down to the fact he couldn’t tolerate his alcohol. He has to live with his actions. Well, we all do.’’
McFarland, then a Navy combat systems specialist, took exception to a comment Asthana made to a woman. Asthana fell backwards and hit his head on the pavement. He was admitted to hospital with critical head injuries, but died two days later.
Both men had been out drinking in the lead up to the fatal encounter outside the Queen St McDonalds in Auckland city at 5am.
McFarland declined to be interviewed. He was released last September after being sentenced to two years and four months in prison.