Reparation offer to Millane family
A former Black Power gang member in court for brutally stabbing a man offered a $1000 donation to the family of murdered British tourist Grace Millane as reparation.
Taranaki farm manager Andrew William Benny told Judge Chris Sygrove he had a daughter the same age as the murdered woman and worried about her safety late at night. ‘‘It’s a sad, sad thing,’’ he said. ‘‘I also have a 22-year-old daughter who catches a bus every day to her job and goes home about midnight. I’m deeply troubled by what’s happened in that tragedy.’’
Judge Sygrove said it was a generous offer and he would approve it.
Benny, who served a prison term in 2012 for threatening his employer with grievous bodily harm, was sentenced in Ha¯wera District Court on Wednesday on one charge of wounding with intent to injure, to which he had previously pleaded guilty.
The charge arose from an incident on May 29 at Oaonui, South Taranaki, where Benny stabbed another man with a knife, puncturing his lung, breaking a rib and damaging his liver, a police summary of facts said.
Benny had been at home that evening when the victim arrived there. Benny let him in, believing it might deescalate matters, the summary of facts said. He and the victim were sitting in a shed and the two had argued about Benny ending a relationship with the victim’s aunty. The disagreement escalated and the victim made comments that Benny took to be threats, the summary said.
Benny reached up on to a windowsill, pulled down a knife with a 20cm blade, removed it from its pouch and stabbed the victim in his chest area with it.
He then tried to assist the victim but the victim left the property. Benny later told the police he had felt threatened by the victim and believed he was about to face a group attack from the victim’s associates.
Defence counsel Kylie Pascoe said it was accepted by both defence and prosecution that there had been a degree of provocation.
Benny had offered the reparation but asked the money not be given to the victim, but to a charity.
She said Benny had lost his job due to being held in custody for the past two months.
Crown prosecutor Stephanie Simpkin said the use of a weapon and the serious injuries were aggravating factors in the crime.
Judge Sygrove said the use of the knife and the victim’s serious injuries led him to consider an initial sentence of 30 months jail.
After discounts for the provocation involved, the reparation offer, Benny’s guilty plea and the time already served, he arrived at an end sentence of eight months home detention together with 100 hours of community work and a $1000 payment to Grace Millane’s parents.
‘‘It is clear that there was provocation for what took place and you are prepared to pay $1000 by way of reparation,’’ he said.