Tenant takes exception to smoking ban
A Timaru boarding house manager man was beaten so badly he needed to be hospitalised after attempting to enforce a nosmoking rule.
The victim attempted to flee Zan Raynor Kara after taking a headbutt to the face, but collapsed under an onslaught of punches, the Timaru District Court heard on Tuesday.
The victim took another punch and knee to the head from the 42-year-old from where he lay on the ground.
‘‘As a result of the assault, the victim has received serious facial injuries with multiple fractures to the face and jaw,’’ police prosecutor Toaiva Hitila said in a summary of facts.
‘‘He has been hospitalised with the need for a plate to be inserted into the facial skull area.’’
Kara pleaded guilty to injuring with intent to injure when he appeared before Judge Joanna Maze.
The defendant, a resident of The City Boarding House on Stafford St, attacked the victim about 8.20pm on October 8, 2019.
The victim is the manager of the boarding house but lives off site.
From his phone, the victim was able to check security cams and had spotted Kara and others smoking near the pool table inside the boarding house.
He rang the house’s landline and asked that they desist, but was met with verbal abuse.
‘‘A short time later, he arrived at the address to speak with the tenants involved.’’
Hitila said the victim spoke with Kara but the conversation turned violent when the defendant headbutted him in the face and rained down punches on his head.
The victim tried to leave and almost made it to the front door, but was felled by repeated punches.
‘‘He ... has fallen to the ground, where he was further punched and kneed in the head,’’ Hitila said.
‘‘In explanation, the defendant declined to make a statement. However, he said that he didn’t intend to injure him.’’
Judge Maze remanded Kara on bail for sentencing on August 13.
The judge ordered that a presentence report with appendices and a cultural report be completed ahead of sentencing, and for restorative justice to be explored.