FINES FOR ASSAULTS ORDINANCE.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 180, 16 August 1845, Page 96

FINES FOR ASSAULTS ORDINANCE.

[Pwied April S2d, 1845.] Preamble. — Whereas it is expedient, in cases of wanton and unprovoked assault, where the person assaulted shall have received some bodily injury, and where a fine shall be imposed and levied upon any party who shall have been summarily convicted for such offence, that a part of the fine so levied be awarded by way of compensation to the party injured : be it therefore enacted, by his Excellency the Governor of New Zealand, with the advice, and consent of the Legislative Council thereof, as follows : — 1. Power to Magistrates to award a Portion of Fines to the injured Party. — When any person shall be convicted before any police magistrate, or any two justices of the peace, of an assault, and it shall appear upon the evidence of a credible witness (other than the party assaulted) that such assault was wanton and unprovoked, and attended with bodily injury to the person assaulted, and where in any such case a fine shall have been imposed upon the offender, it shall be lawful for such police magistrate or justices aforesaid, when it shall appear to him or them proper that compensation be made for the injury inflicted, to award to the party injured such portion of the fine so levied as to them shall seem meet : provided always that the sum so to be awarded shall not in any case exceed one-half of the fine levied.