Work earns man a lighter sentence

A man who assaulted two men at a party, leaving both unconscious, has been given a reduced sentence to allow him to stay employed, writes David Burroughs.

Nelson Weston, 24, had earlier pleaded guilty to two charges of injuring with intent to injure and one of assault with intent to injure.

The summary of facts said Weston had been at a 21st on February 11 with an associate and about 30 to 40 other people.

Weston and his associate decided they didn’t like some of the people at the party, who were with a group of women, and Weston was encouraged to assault them.

He threw a haymaker punch at the first victim which knocked him out. The man was carried inside and later taken to hospital by ambulance, where a CAT scan showed he had suffered concussion and bruising to his side and ribs.

Weston then punched the second victim in the head four times, leaving him unconscious. While the victim was on the ground, Weston kicked him in the ribs.

Other people intervened and held the pair down, but they were able to get away. They later returned with the associate carrying a hammer and a baseball bat wrapped with barbed wire.

The associate assaulted a number of people while Weston was yelling threats at people.

After he was arrested, he said he didn’t think he had assaulted anyone.

He had been given a sentencing indication of 12 months home detention but when he appeared for sentencing, Judge Chris Sygrove said he had read the presentence report which showed Weston was employed full-time.

‘‘I think work for someone like him is a very positive thing,’’ Sygrove said, and he indicated to defence lawyer Julian Hannam that he was considering a lighter sentence to allow him to continue. Hannam said a curfew between 6pm and 5:30am would still allow him to work.

He said he would also be able to pay reparation at $50 a week.

‘‘I view employment as a very positive thing because once they get out of employment the devil seems to make work of idle hands,’’ Sygrove said.

Sygrove said restorative justice was unable to take place as they were unable to contact Weston or the victims.

He sentenced him to six months of community detention and 12 months intensive supervision, and ordered him to pay $500 reparation to one of his victims, as the other hadn’t given an impact statement.