‘Arrogant, violent’ teens’ racial attack
A Good Samaritan was kicked and punched by three ‘‘drunken, arrogant and violent men’’ in a racism-fuelled attack at Wanaka’s Puzzling World.
Teenagers Taylor William Meikle, 18, and Sheridan Christopher Foot, of Dunedin, appeared for sentencing before Judge Kevin Phillips in the Dunedin District Court yesterday afternoon.
The pair took part in an attack on an Australian tourist visiting with his wife and three young children.
A third person has pleaded not guilty over the incident in January.
The Dunedin trio, along with two female friends, drove to the Otago town in one of the men’s ute to attend a car show at the weekend of January 20.
That afternoon they parked their ute at Puzzling World. Onlookers described them as intoxicated and looking for trouble.
Soon afterwards Meikle hurled racial abuse at an Indian man and his 5-year-old daughter, telling them to go back to their ‘‘f…… country’’.
A bystander apologised to the family, saying New Zealanders were not like this.
‘‘You acted appallingly in a tourist centre, to a tourist . . . the lifeblood of this country’s economy,’’ the judge told Meikle.
The 46-year-old victim from Australia’s Northern Territory also heard the abuse and went to help.
The defendants tried to leave the scene, but hit a parked car. The victim checked the damage and noted the ute’s registration. The teenagers got out of the ute, with the man who has pleaded not guilty allegedly hurling derogatory and threatening language, according to the police summary of facts.
The victim held him off, but Meikle and Foot soon approached. A beer bottle was thrown, then the victim was punched and kicked until he fell. Police said the attack continued as he lay on the ground.
His wife and child tried to intervene, but Meikle pulled the woman back. One of the trio told her they were not afraid to hit her. The assault ended when a bystander intervened.
Judge Phillips said the victim was vulnerable and did not expect to be attacked by ‘‘drunken, arrogant and violent men’’.
Foot’s sentencing was delayed for him to find a suitable home detention address. Meikle had pleaded guilty to injuring with intent, threatening language and assault and was sentenced to eight months’ home detention and 200 hours of community service.