Woman wakes to punch in the face

A man punched his sleeping partner in the face only hours after he manhandled the woman and threw her against a wheelchair, a court heard.

On Thursday, Hohepa Tahere admitted the violent attack along with an earlier altercation with police, where he aggressively acted out and spat at an officer.

The summary of facts at the New Plymouth District Court said on February 3 Tahere was at the victim’s home on Seymour St in Waitara. The victim’s mother, who uses a wheelchair, was also at the address.

Tahere and the victim had been arguing for most of the evening and when police arrived about 9pm, the defendant agreed to leave the house.

The 26-year-old returned threeand-a-half hours later and walked into the victim’s room, where he screamed at her and started hitting her.

The victim yelled out to her mother for help.

Tahere grabbed his partner by her hair and arm and hauled her off the bed, before dragging her down the hall way. During the assault he punched her in the head and kicked her.

He then picked her up and threw her against her mother’s wheelchair, which was nearby.

Police were called to the address but Tahere left before a unit arrived and officers could not find him.

Later that night, Tahere returned to the house and found the victim asleep in a room.

He punched her in the face, a blow which woke her up and caused her immediate pain. As a result of the assault, the woman suffered a suspected broken nose and bruising to her face.

Police were called again and arrested Tahere.

Six weeks earlier, on December 24, police found themselves dealing with Tahere because of his level of intoxication and aggressive behaviour.

The defendant was picked up by police about 10.40pm and taken to his parents’ address in Waitara but they refused to have him due to his drunkenness.

He was also verbally abusive towards them.

During the visit, Tahere ran off from the house but was found on Nelson St, after members of the public alerted police to his erratic behaviour, which included him jumping out in front of cars and threatening people.

When officers caught up with Tahere he continued his belligerent behaviour. After being arrested and being placed in the back of the police car, the defendant spat at the officer who was in the driver’s seat.

A large amount of spit hit the back of the officer’s head.

As a result, a spit hood was put over Tahere’s head.

During the hearing, Judge Garry Barkle noted the guilty pleas to assaulting a police officer, disorderly behaviour and injures with intent to injure and convicted Tahere of the charges.

Defence lawyer Patrick Mooney asked for the case to be referred to restorative justice, ahead of the April 30 sentencing date.

The defendant was remanded into custody, but intended to apply for bail next week.