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Simon Maude / Things
The two young men admitted their role in the fight, in Whangārei Juvenile Court on Monday. (File photo)
Two young men have admitted their role in a fight over the coronavirus alert level 4 lockdown, where two men received serious stab wounds.
A 16-year-old admitted to stabbing the two men, while a 21-year-old admitted to intentionally injuring them.
The April incident occurred in a Whangārei suburb after the two criminals drank to celebrate a birthday.
When they went out for a walk, two neighbors challenged them about their behavior, given the national shutdown at the time.
Danica MacLean / Stuff
The two victims received deep stab wounds and were treated at Whangārei Hospital. (File photo)
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A fight ensued and the two victims sustained serious injuries that required hospital care.
One man had a deep cut in the abdomen about 10-12 cm deep, along with a concussion and a broken eye socket, while the other had a deep wound on the right buttock, about 7-10 cm wide. depth.
The matter was examined in the Whangārei Juvenile Court on Monday, where Stuff he was granted an exemption to cover the process, provided that the identification data of the young man was not disclosed.
Simon Maude / Things
Judge Greg Davis granted a rare exception for the Juvenile Court proceedings to be published.
Judge Greg Davis said the court operated on a principle of open justice.
“The media is thought of as the eyes and ears of the community.”
In the Juvenile Court, the youths do not plead guilty, but do not deny the charges.
In this case, the 16-year-old did not deny two counts of wounding with intent to cause serious bodily harm, two serious counts with a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison.
Andy Jackson / Stuff
The 16-year-old used a piece of glass to inflict the stab wounds. (File photo)
Through his attorney, Tracy Donald, the teen said the stabbing was inflicted with a piece of glass, rather than a knife.
The 21-year-old pleaded guilty to a landlord count of injuring with intent to injure, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
The factual summary shows that the fight began with a verbal altercation, but escalated when the teenager was knocked down and briefly fell to the ground.
The 21-year-old hit the first victim several times on the head. The 16-year-old, concerned for the 21-year-old’s safety, struck the first victim with his glass piece and cut his abdomen.
When the second victim intervened, the 16-year-old stabbed him in the buttocks.
Judge Davis said he accepted it was a felony.
The young man, who had not previously appeared in court, was placed in pretrial detention to live with his mother and return to school.
A Rangitahi Court family group conference will be held in a marae for the 16-year-old.
Judge Davis explained that this hui would be an opportunity for everyone involved to talk about the crime and find a way forward for the teenager.
Options range from dismissal of charges to sentencing the teenager as an adult.
The 21-year-old has not appeared in New Zealand courts before, but was deported from Australia two years ago for committing a crime there.
He was placed in pretrial detention on electronically monitored bail, with a sentence on November 18.
