Victim affected by cruel crime
After being kidnapped, tortured and beaten almost to death, a woman says her life can never be the same.
Her words were heard on MaY 26 at the High Court in Auckland as a trio found guilty of a raft of charges, including her kidnapping and attempted murder, were jailed.
‘‘What happened has changed me and my life irreversibly,’’ the woman said in a statement read by Crown prosecutor Brian Dickey.
‘‘The physical injuries still impact my day to day life.
‘‘I know I am different.
‘‘It eats me up inside ... I will never be the way I was before.’’
Julie-Ann Torrance sat alongside co-offenders Nicola Jones and Wayne Blackett who were all handed down jail sentences for their involvement in the crime in Dome Valley, Auckland, last year.
Justice Christian Whata sentenced Torrance to 16 years, seven months for charges which included assault with a weapon, sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection and attempted murder.
Jones was sentenced to 13 years and one month for charges involving threatening to kill, assault with a weapon, attempted murder, injuring with intent.
Wayne Blackett, who had previously pleaded guilty to attempted murder and kidnapping, was jailed for 12 years, seven months.
All will have to serve at least half of their sentences before they can apply for parole.
Justice Whata described their offending as ‘‘particularly cruel’’.
The victim, who was 19 at the time, was subjected to two vicious assaults where she was bound, tasered and had her hair cut off.
She was also sexually violated, beaten with cricket wickets and a cricket bat.
Her head was bashed with a hammer.
Her victim impact statement described her ordeal.
Her injuries have left her with brain damage and some paralysis.
‘‘There are permanent holes in my skull where I was hit with a hammer,’’ the statement said.
‘‘Because I know what happened I know I am not just another 20-yearold.’’
Prosecutor Dickie said the case was abnormally troubling.
‘‘[It is] some of the most serious and disturbing violent offending we have seen in the High Court,’’ he said.