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John Kirk-Anderson / Stuff
Fairmont Joseph Wiringi was allowed to briefly hold his daughter for the first time after being incarcerated in Christchurch District Court.
A Christchurch District Court judge broke protocol to allow a young father to hold his baby for the first time before being sent to jail.
Fairmont Joseph Wiringi, 22, the son of former Christchurch mixed race mob boss Joseph “Junior” Wiringi, was sentenced to 15 months in prison Thursday.
He had previously pleaded guilty to illegal possession of a firearm, possession of methamphetamine, possession of cannabis, not allowing the police to search his phone, and violating the Health Law.
On April 13, the eighteenth consecutive day of New Zealand’s Level 4 lockdown, Wiringi was the driver of a vehicle stopped in Christchurch by police at 10:56 pm. He was unable to offer any valid reason to leave his address.
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When police searched the vehicle, they found a firearm that had been illegally cut under the front passenger seat. All identifying features, such as serial numbers, had been removed. Wiringi does not have a firearm license.
Police also found 3.3 g of methamphetamine and 2.25 g of cannabis.
Wiringi’s daughter was born while he was in custody and he had never seen her in person. His partner and baby, along with other whānau, were in court to support him during his sentencing.
In a letter to Judge Stephen O’Driscoll, Wiringi said that the birth of her daughter had been a turning point in her life, and that she now felt for the first time that her life had meaning and purpose.
“I am confident and determined to step forward and be the man my partner and daughter need me to be,” he said.
John Kirk-Anderson / Stuff
Wiringi was sentenced to 15 months in prison.
Judge O’Driscoll said that while he does not usually attach much importance to the letters written by defendants before sentencing, he believes Wiringi was sincere when he said he wanted to make better decisions for his future.
“If you want to be part of the life of your partner and daughter, you must make sure not to continue offending, otherwise you will miss all the milestones that a father should have with his son,” he told her.
At the request of Wiringi’s attorney, Judge O’Driscoll allowed Wiringi’s partner to deliver their baby to her on the dock so that she could hold her for a few minutes before being taken away by a correctional officer.
Family members in the public gallery wiped away tears at the gesture.
“I hope I never see you again, Mr. Wiringi,” Judge O’Driscoll said.
