Long delay for sentencing in attack case

The sentencing of a man who assaulted a TV reporter and his friend in a vicious and unprovoked homophobic attack has been delayed several months.

Joden Martin was to be sentenced yesterday afternoon, but was instead remanded on bail until December 3 so another charge he had admitted before Waita¯kere District Court can be transferred to Auckland District Court.

Judge Robert Ronayne told media the fact there was another charge could be reported, but he was unsure if details of that charge were subject to any suppression orders.

Martin, 20, had earlier pleaded guilty to two charges of injuring with intent to injure and assault with intent to injure, following the attack on Newshub reporter Aziz Al-Sa’afin and his friend Fergus Fauvel on Karangahape Rd in February.

Before yesterday’s decision, Martin’s lawyer told the court his client was drunk, distraught at the anniversary of his father’s death, and believed Al-Sa’afin and Fauvel may have been “being disrespectful” while standing next to a church.

Martin’s lawyer said at an earlier hearing her client carried out the assault because he held certain “religious views”.

Al-Sa’afin and Fauvel were standing on the corner of the busy central Auckland road and Cobden St just after 1.30am when they were assaulted without warning, court documents released to the Herald showed.

During the February 10 assault, Martin yelled “fags” and “homos” at the pair, court documents read. Fauvel ran on to Karangahape Rd but was pursued by Martin, who threw him to the ground, pushed him up against a wall and continued throw punches.