Jail term for injury

Press, 20 January 1982, Page 5

Jail term for injury

PA Auckland A man who "whisked" a friend away in a car and "beat him" in "almost a Mafia-type operation" has been sentenced to two years and a half in jail. Sesera Isaako. aged 19. a painter. of Panmure, appeared before Judge Blackwood in the District Court at Auckland.

He had earlier pleaded guilty to charges of escaping from the Waikeria prerelease hostel in Herne Bay and to injuring with intent. Mr Roger Chambers, for the defendant, said that Isaako came from a close and caring family. His absconding from the pre-release hostel was partly

as a result of his being given a week-end's leave. Mr Chambers said Isaako realised that because of his non-attendance a warrant would have been issued and in that knowledge "made himself scarce."

Isaako had been drinking and had taken a number of pills on the day of the assault. Mr Chambers said.

The complainant, who was a friend of Isaako's. had since visited Isaako at Mount Eden Prison and they appeared to have settled their differences.

The Judge said that Isaako and a co-offender had a deal to pick up drugs from the complainant, but when they met the drugs were not there. The two men took the complainant away in a car

and assaulted him. A beer bottle was smashed over his head.

Isaako got a crank-handle and beat the complainant with it.

"You could have killed him." the Judge said. It was “almost a Mafia-type operation."

"You whisked him away in a car and beat him to the point where he could have been killed."

The Judge said that the courts were very concerned about violence and he had contemplated sending Isaako to the High Court for sentence.

He sentenced Isaako to two years and a half in jail on the injuring charge and to six months jail on the escaping charge, with the terms to be concurrent.