Cycle of violence continues

Regan Kaa-tuari’s partner is not safe from his abuse – even when he’s behind bars.

The mother of three has been subjected to years of torment. It has even continued through a prison telephone.

The attacks started several years ago, and worsened when she fell pregnant to another man while Kaa-tuari was in jail.

But court reports reveal a sinister childhood, which fostered a culture of violence towards women since he was a boy.

It was that abandonment which led him to seek refuge with Black Power when he was 19.

Kaa-tuari, 26, was sentenced in the Palmerston North District Court last Thursday to three years and four months’ jail.

Earlier, he pleaded guilty to three charges of assault and strangulation.

The recent bout of abuse started at his partner’s mother’s home in March last year.

The pair became embroiled in an ugly argument, which ended when Kaa-tuari strangled his partner in a head-lock until she lost consciousness.

The attack was so severe she lost control of her bodily functions.

A second string of attacks occurred over four days, when his partner disclosed she was pregnant.

‘‘You were not happy about this and asked her questions,’’ Judge Lance Rowe told the defendant.

‘‘But no matter what she said, it wasn’t good enough.’’

Kaa-tuari landed several punches to her head and forceful elbows to the jaw.

He was quickly arrested and held in custody, but the assaults didn’t stop there.

He assaulted two fellow inmates in separate and unprovoked attacks.

One was against his cell mate who was asleep in the top bunk. Kaa-tuari punched and kicked him several times.

A blow to the ribs was so hard the victim lost control of his