Extra term for inmate

Press, 10 February 1982, Page 5

Extra term for inmate

A jump on to the chief prison officer's back during a brawl in Mount Eden jail cost an inmate an extra fourmonth term when he appeared in the District Court at Auckland. Hemi James Parata. aged 18. unemployed, of . Mount Eden Prison, had previously been sentenced to three years imprisonment by the High Court. Judge Bergin said. Before his appearance in the District Court he had

pleaded guilty to a charge of assaulting the chief prison officer. Mr Albert Hardie, but had refuted part of the summary of facts read to the court. After hearing evidence from three prison officers, including Mr Hardie, and from Parata. Judge Bergin said that jumping on Mr Hardie s back was an offence and punching would simply exacerbate the offending. He heard that there were blows, although these would

not be regarded as of the most serious kind. He was not satisfied that Mr Hardie had been kicking a man on the ground, the Judge said. Miss J. Budge, for Parata. said that the charge arose out of malaise. The offence was not premeditated and' was a spur of the moment thing. Judge Bergin said Parata's sentence last Friday had been on charges of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and assault with intent to injure.