The Southland Times

Punch costs $12,000

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An Australian man has been ordered to pay a $12,000 emotional harm payment to a man he attacked in Queenstown who suffered a shattered jaw.

Benjamin Alexandra Stahr, 26, was also sentenced to seven months’ home detention and 150 hours’ community work for injuring with intent to injure and theft of a cap on September 3 after he appeared in the Queenstown District Court yesterday.

Stahr had been drinking in Queenstown with his girlfriend when he approached the victim and punched him twice in the face in an unprovoked attack.

The victim suffered several fractures of his jaw, which required metals plates and screws during surgery, a detached right ear and damage to his voice, which impaired him working as a tour guide.

The victim, who said the traumatisi­ng attack had left him in extreme pain, would likely have problems with his teeth for the rest of his life and required more surgery to align his jaw properly.

Judge Bernadette Farnan said ‘‘you could well have killed this man.

Stahr will likely be deported after serving his sentence in Christchur­ch.

 ??  ?? Judge Bernadette Farnan
Judge Bernadette Farnan

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