Ten months jail for assault

Press, 7 October 1988, Page 14

Ten months jail for assault

Ten months in prison was the sentence given to a man for what Judge Noble described as “a vicious, violent, unprovoked and cowardly assault” committed while under the influence of drugs. Raymond Gary Marzola, aged 22 (Mr T. M. Fournier), was appealing for sentence in the District Court yesterday on a charge of assaulting a schoolboy, aged 14, with intent to injure him, on August 23. The Judge said as a result of the assault, which involved Marzola kicking the boy in the face and the back of the head while wearing steelcapped boots, the com-

plainant received a broken nose and spent the night in hospital. Even months after the incident, the boy still required further treatment. In addition, his mother suffered substantial emotional barm as the result of the incident, said the Judge. What made it all worse, he said, was that the defendant mistook his victim for somebody else. Mr Fournier said his client accepted the inevitability of a custodial sentence. The offence occurred while the defendant was under the influence of hallucinogenic drugs. Marzola wished to

apologise to the complainant and his mother. It was his first conviction for serious violence. SIX MONTHS PRISON Two men who, in unrelated incidents, sold cannabis to an undercover policeman earlier this year, were each sent to prison for six months. Peter Lawrence Clark, aged 30, unemployed, had earlier admitted selling eight ounces of cannabis to the constable, for a total of $2360, on two occasions, and with possessing the drug. The counsel, Mr S. C. Barker, said on each occasion there had been persistent requests for cannabis from the police

officer. Out of friendship for the officer, Clark had arranged, through a supplier, to obtain the quantities on credit and money he received was paid to the supplier. The defendant made nothing out of the deals. Clark, a first offender, committed the offences at a time when he and his wife had separated, and when through no fault of his, his business had collapsed, said Mr Barker. Kenneth Roy Large, aged 28, a profile cutter, also represented by Mr Barker, was appearing for sentence following conviction on.three charges of selling six ounces of cannabis to the undercover

officer for $lO9O. The defendant was also found to have a further three ounces for supply, in four separate bags, at his address. Mr Barker said his client had supplied the drug to a close friend who in turn had supplied it to the police officer. In considering the quantity of cannabis, and the amounts of money involved, in both cases, anything other than custodial sentences would be inappropriate, said the Judge. The Court of Appeal had determined that persons who dealt in drugs could expect no other sentence than to go to prison, said the Judge.