Legal high fuelled brutal attack on partner, son

A JUDGE has banned a man from smoking synthetic cannabis after he brutally assaulted his partner and son while high on the legal drug.

Albert Edward Ratima, 40, punched the woman twice and held a 30-centimetre filleting knife against her after he accused her of being unfaithful on July 21 last year.

Ratima, who had been drinking and smoking synthetic cannabis that night, then followed her when she tried to seek medical attention for a fractured nose and a stab wound.

At the time the woman told police she did not know the person who had assaulted her. The couple left after Ratima promised to take her to hospital.

However, it was not long before they were arguing again and Ratima punched her in the face.

Ratima also punched

their 17-year-old son in the face when he tried to intervene. The woman tried to get away when the car stopped, but Ratima threw her to the ground and tackled her.

Her son drove her to the police station to make a complaint. Police found Ratima hiding close to his home later that night.

He appeared for sentencing in the Hastings District Court yesterday, on two charges of injuring with intent, assault, assaulting a woman and two charges of breaching a protection order which arose out of a separate incident.

Judge Geoff Rea said Ratima was no stranger to the court, but had kept out of trouble for eight years and held down a job.

It appeared he had succumbed to artificial cannabis, the judge said.

Ratima was sentenced to nine months’ home detention. Judge Rea banned him from using alcohol and drugs and specifically artificial cannabis.