Dunedin District Court

CLOSEDCIRCUIT television of an incident in the exercise yard at the Otago Correctional Facility showed the victim becoming unconscious, Judge Kevin Phillips said, sentencing a prisoner who placed a fellow inmate in a choker hold.

Zane Allison (23) was before the Dunedin District Court this week convicted of injuring by an unlawful act.

He had pleaded guilty.

The police summary said Alli son and the 25yearold victim were playing cards in the prison exercise yard about 2.50pm on March 5.

Allison walked behind the victim, put him in a choker hold, and held him. Closed circuit television showed the victim apparently becoming unconscious.

Allison released him and he fell forward, his face taking the full impact of the fall.

As well as a cut to his chin, he had a swollen and cut nose, swollen lips, grazing to his forehead and concussion.

He was taken to Dunedin Hospital for assessment.

Counsel Steve Turner said Allison described what occurred as ‘‘a joke gone wrong’’.

Allison and the victim were friends, he said. Allison placed the victim in a headlock after a card game. His friend lost consciousness. Allison was unaware of that. The victim’s injuries were relatively shortterm.

Allison freaked out after the incident. He had made written apologies to the victim. Although restorative justice did not go ahead, Allison had been very motivated.

He did not have a background of violence.

Judge Phillips told Allison ‘‘the victim says you need to learn from the injuries he sustained. He would still like to be friends. But you have to realise this should never have happened’’.

Allison was sentenced to eight months’ jail, cumulative on the two years, six months’ term he is serving.

Other convictions

Lyric Natasha Newman (19), bar manager, of Dunedin, drinkdriving, 708mcg (explanation: had drunk ‘‘probably one too many to drive’’), Castle St, about 11.50pm, August 14, fined $700, court costs $130, disqualified six months.

Thomas Lobb Garden (28), musician, of Dunedin, drinkdriving, 557mcg (explanation: had consumed three to five pints beer, was moving vehicle), lower Stuart St, about 2am, August 19, fined $550, court costs $130, disqualified six months.

Holly Kate Morighan (37), of Dunedin, driving while licence suspended (received threemonth suspension for excess demerit points, December 7; drove at 129kmh, Waihola high way, 12.20am, January 27), four months’ community detention (curfewed 7pm7am daily), 120 hours’ community work, 12 months’ supervision, disqualified one year and one month. Judge noted the conviction Morighan’s seventh of a like kind, warned her ‘‘any breach of the disqualification will result in prison’’.

TommyLee Winder (20), of Palmerston, disqualified driving, Shore St, about 10pm, April 26, 60 hours’ community work.