Jailed for violence against expartner
LOSCOE Patangata committed an appalling crime intended to inflict maximum humiliation on his former partner, but he was also genuinely remorseful and willing to change, the Dunedin District Court heard yesterday.
Patangata (28) was jailed for 25 months yesterday for strangulation of his former partner. The sentences for three charges of assaulting a person in a family relationship and two charges of common assault are to be served concurrently.
Patangata had pleaded guilty to the December 19 attack at the earliest opportunity, and had accepted a sentence indication of 34 months’ imprisonment from Judge Emma Smith.
However, between that indication and final sentencing two further reports on Patangata had been completed, which defence counsel Brendan Stephenson suggested should result in his client receiving some credit for mitigating factors.
Patangata was genuinely sorry and had apologised profusely to his former partner — who was in court to support him — at a restorative justice meeting.
A cultural report also showed a history of rejection and alcohol dependency, which could be seen as being the root cause of Patangata’s offending, Mr Stephenson said.
Patangata and his former partner had been drinking on December 21 last year, when Patangata — who was heavily intoxicated — snapped.
Patangata threw two empty beer bottles at her head, smashed a window and also threw eggs and coins at her.
When spoken to by police Patangata admitted he had committed the assault, but that he could not remember details of how he inflicted it.
Judge Smith said Patangata had committed a dreadful crime and needed to be punished for it.
However, she had read the reports and believed Patangata was genuinely sorry.
She had also read the victim impact statement, which showed how appalling his violence against his former partner had been, but also that there had been some degree of reconciliation.
Judge Smith allowed a discount on her earlier sentence, imprisoning Patangata for 25 months.
She also imposed a protection order, and said she expected the Parole Board would impose stringent conditions on Patangata upon his release from prison.