Man’s jaw broken by fellow prisoner

Press, 23 December 1986, Page 8

Man’s jaw broken by fellow prisoner

PA Auckland A member of the Porirua Mongrel Mob who broke a man’s jaw and took his watch while both were being held at the Auckland Central Police Station was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment yesterday. He is James Peter Hotai, aged 21, an unemployed general hand, who appeared before Judge Gilbert in the District Court at Auckland. Hotai had previously pleaded guilty to robbing a fellow prisoner in the police cells. He pleaded guilty yesterday to a further charge of robbery of a jacket. He was sentenced to 18 months jail, both sentences to be served concurrently. The Court had heard that Hotai and the complainant were in the holding . room at the watchhouse on December 13. Hotai punched the complainant twice on the nose and demanded money. The complainant denied having any. Hotai demanded his watch, worth $BO, which the complainant gave him. The Court heard that Hotai then punch'ed the complainant in the face, knocking him to the ground, then kicked him about the head and body several times. The complainant was taken to hospital with a broken jaw. Defence counsel, Mrs Lorrain Smith, said Hotai was extremely drunk at the time.