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​New Zealand police hit out at sentence given to tycoon’s son for assault ​New Zealand police hit out at sentence given to tycoon’s son for assault
(35 minutes later)
New Zealand police have criticised the non-custodial sentence handed down to the teenage son of a multimillionaire who beat a police officer unconscious during a drunken rage.New Zealand police have criticised the non-custodial sentence handed down to the teenage son of a multimillionaire who beat a police officer unconscious during a drunken rage.
Nikolas Delegat, 19, the son of wine magnate Jakov Delegat, attacked Constable Alana Kane in Dunedin in March last year.Nikolas Delegat, 19, the son of wine magnate Jakov Delegat, attacked Constable Alana Kane in Dunedin in March last year.
Delegat, a student at the University of Otago, continued punching the officer even after she lost consciousness, and also attacked a campus security guard and damaged property at a student bar.Delegat, a student at the University of Otago, continued punching the officer even after she lost consciousness, and also attacked a campus security guard and damaged property at a student bar.
The assault was so severe Kane took two months off work and remains on light duties.The assault was so severe Kane took two months off work and remains on light duties.
Delegat was sentenced on Monday at Dunedin district court to 300 hours community service and ordered to pay costs of NZ$5,000 (£2,755) to Kane. He was also refused a request for anonymity and a discharge without conviction. Delegat was sentenced on Monday at Dunedin district court to 300 hours’ community service and ordered to pay costs of NZ$5,000 (£2,754) to Kane. He was also refused a request for anonymity and a discharge without conviction.
New Zealand Police Association (NZPA) said the sentencing was “manifestly unjust”, and if Delegat had been brown and poor, he would have received a prison sentence of between six months and a year.New Zealand Police Association (NZPA) said the sentencing was “manifestly unjust”, and if Delegat had been brown and poor, he would have received a prison sentence of between six months and a year.
“This was a very serious offence, it was a sustained and brutal attack on a representative of the state even after she’d passed out from her injuries,” said Greg O’Connor, president of the NZPA. “This was a very serious offence, it was a sustained and brutal attack on a representative of the state even after she had passed out from her injuries,” said Greg O’Connor, president of the NZPA.
“If this man had been a Polynesian youth unable to afford top-notch legal representation, he would be facing jail time now.”“If this man had been a Polynesian youth unable to afford top-notch legal representation, he would be facing jail time now.”
O’Connor reported a strong sense of “disquiet” among Dunedin police officers at the sentence, and said people had been approaching the association to express their outrage.O’Connor reported a strong sense of “disquiet” among Dunedin police officers at the sentence, and said people had been approaching the association to express their outrage.
People voiced their frustration on social media, sharing stories of similar cases to Delegat, in which Maori or Polynesian young men faced jail time for first-offence assaults.People voiced their frustration on social media, sharing stories of similar cases to Delegat, in which Maori or Polynesian young men faced jail time for first-offence assaults.
“When Mum & Dad are rich you only get 300 hours for wasting a cop till they were unconscious” wrote one Facebook commenter. “Money or racial prejudice?” wrote another. “Maybe a bit of both”“When Mum & Dad are rich you only get 300 hours for wasting a cop till they were unconscious” wrote one Facebook commenter. “Money or racial prejudice?” wrote another. “Maybe a bit of both”
“I think this has really struck a cord with New Zealanders because Kiwis are inherently fair people and this light sentence smacks of being unfair,” said O’Connor. “I think this has really struck a cord with New Zealanders because Kiwis are inherently fair people and this light sentence smacks of being unfair,” said O’Connor. This cannot be written off as youthful exuberance, the level of brutality was excessive and disturbing.”
“This cannot be written off as youthful exuberance, the level of brutality was excessive and disturbing.” In 2006, Maori academic Hautahi Kingi punched a man several times over a dispute involving his girlfriend, giving the man a black eye and a cut lip. Although it was his first offence and his victim did not want to press charges, Kingi was sentenced to five months in jail for the assault. The sentence was overturned only after a leading lawyer working for free appealed against the sentence.
In 2006, Maori academic Hautahi Kingi punched a man several times over a dispute involving his girlfriend, giving the man a black-eye and a cut lip. Although it was his first offence and his victim did not want to press charges, Kingi was sentenced to five months in jail for the assault. The sentence was overturned only after a leading lawyer working for free appealed against the sentence.
In a statement from his lawyer, Mark Ryan, Delegat said he was remorseful for his crime.In a statement from his lawyer, Mark Ryan, Delegat said he was remorseful for his crime.
Ryan said: “Nikolas was in the first month of his university study away from home in Dunedin. He made a bad decision in the heat of the moment which caused considerable harm to those affected, which he regrets. He also apologises to his family and those around him for the trouble he has caused them.”Ryan said: “Nikolas was in the first month of his university study away from home in Dunedin. He made a bad decision in the heat of the moment which caused considerable harm to those affected, which he regrets. He also apologises to his family and those around him for the trouble he has caused them.”
In an opinion piece for Newshub, Chris Holden wrote that Delegat should have received a prison sentence.In an opinion piece for Newshub, Chris Holden wrote that Delegat should have received a prison sentence.
“The New Zealand justice system believes spending a few hours doing something like planting trees is adequate punishment for punching a female police officer so badly she is still recovering, 18 months later,” he wrote.“The New Zealand justice system believes spending a few hours doing something like planting trees is adequate punishment for punching a female police officer so badly she is still recovering, 18 months later,” he wrote.
“The moral of Delegat’s sentence is if you do the crime you don’t do the time.”“The moral of Delegat’s sentence is if you do the crime you don’t do the time.”