Lawyer convicted of assault on his 12-year-old son which left him hospitalised

A 50-something-year-old lawyer was convicted of assaulting his 12-year-old son in a case that saw the boy hospitalized and required legal proceedings that dragged on for over two years. The man appeared in the Timaru District Court on Friday before Judge Campbell Savage, who handed down a sentence of supervision after the lawyer pleaded guilty to charges of assault on a child. The case, which began in 2022, was described by the judge as having progressed at a “glacial pace,” with the first hearing taking place in April 2022. The lawyer’s defense team argued that the delay was partly due to the accused’s efforts to avoid legal processes, including evading service of summons and making numerous pre-trial applications deemed meritless by the court. According to court documents obtained by Radio New Zealand, the incident took place in April 2022 when the lawyer and his son were engaged in a boxing session on a concrete surface at the back of their home. Both individuals were wearing boxing gloves. During the session, the lawyer struck his son’s head, causing him to bleed. The victim reportedly told his father, “Please stop. I am serious.” Despite this, the lawyer proceeded to strike his son in the face and then the stomach, prompting the boy to cry and collapse to the ground. The assaults continued while the child was on the floor, and eventually, the victim stated he could not breathe, leading the lawyer to stop. After this, the boy climbed over a fence to escape the scene. The victim was transported to the hospital, where initial assessments suggested potential injuries such as a fractured cheekbone and a perforated liver. However, further scans ruled these out. The boy sustained extensive bruising to his head and ears, along with a cut above his eye. He remained in the hospital for three days for observation and further evaluation of possible internal injuries. The lawyer did not provide any comments to the police regarding the incident. During the sentencing, the lawyer’s defense attorney, Michael Sandom, addressed the court, noting that the accused was representing himself alongside other legal professionals, which brought a sense of “embarrassment and shame” within the legal community. Sandom emphasized that the lawyer was aware of his wrongdoing and expressed remorse for the actions committed. He described the offense as “distressing and repugnant” and noted that the experience would remain with the lawyer “for the rest of his life.” Sandom characterized the lawyer as a “kind and generous person” and an advocate in the criminal jurisdiction, acknowledging the seriousness of the offense. Crown prosecutor Andrew McRae opposed the lawyer’s request for a discharge without conviction, stating that the affidavit submitted for name suppression did not meet the necessary criteria. The judge acknowledged the lawyer’s love for his son, saying there was no doubt the man cared deeply for him. However, the judge criticized the slow progress of the case, suggesting the lawyer had deliberately delayed proceedings using his understanding of the legal system. The judge remarked that the guilty plea was made at the last moment, describing it as occurring “as the clock was striking 12.” The case highlights the complex interplay between personal relationships and legal accountability, particularly when one party holds professional expertise in the very system meant to adjudicate such matters. The outcome underscores the gravity of domestic violence, even within families, and the challenges faced by the justice system in addressing such cases promptly and effectively. The lawyer will now serve under supervision, marking the end of a protracted legal journey that spanned more than two years.