A manager at McDonald’s Queenstown faces a jail sentence after admitting a violent assault on a customer.
Rishi Kumar, 34, today pleaded guilty in Queenstown District Court to injuring with intent on August 30.
Kumar was working as duty manager that day when, at 3am, a man entered an area in the restaurant restricted to staff only.
Kumar approached the man, told him to leave the area and escorted him back up the stairs. Within seconds of being removed, the man twice returned to the restricted area, the court heard.
The man then walked up to Kumar, holding his cellphone out and pointing it at Kumar.
Kumar grabbed the man’s right arm, swinging him round and punched him in the face with a closed fist.
“The defendant then pulls the victim to the floor. Once on the floor the defendant stomps on the victim’s torso using his right foot. The defendant, then using his left foot, football kicks the victim in the face,” prosecuting sergeant Ian Collin says.
As another McDonald’s worker went to the scene, Kumar ripped the cell phone from the victim’s hand.
The incident was captured on McDonald’s CCTV cameras.
“Within minutes the defendant returns to the area of the assault holding a mop and proceeds to clean the floor of the victim’s blood,” Collin adds.
The victim needed medical attention and received five stitches to his face.
Explaining his actions to police, Kumar said he “felt scared” of the victim returning to the restricted are for a third time, Collin says.
He has resigned from McDonald’s.
Kumar’s lawyer Phena Byrne applied for interim name suppression because he hasn’t told his eight-year-old daughter about the incident and his wife works at the restaurant. Judge Kevin Phillips refused to grant suppression.
Judge Phillips remanded Kumar on bail for sentencing on October 23 and called for presentence reports into home detention, however a term of imprisonment is likely, he says.
Your say
Queenstown McDonalds duty manager faces jail for assault
While violence can never be condoned, this is clearly a situation where a man was provoked beyond the limits of human endurance. McDonald's night crew are subject to racial abuse, spat upon by drunken patrons and have food thrown at them. The company refuses to provide security other than on Friday and Saturday nights. Will they be prosecuted for failing to provide a safe working environment for their beleaguered staff? The duty manager should be discharged without conviction.
25 Sep 2012 08:17PMRangimarie
''Once on the floor the defendant stomps on the victim’s torso using his right foot. The defendant, then using his left foot, football kicks the victim in the face,''
I think that's where his case fell apart.
25 Sep 2012 03:50PMkernow
He was in the right.
If someone keeps coming back after being told to get out, in this case he was escourted out 3 times, yes I think he may have been scared and may have lost some control, but I say he should not get any fine or time. If you were in another country you would or may have been shot. coming into areas that were out of bounds too you. Judge Phillps let him go, he was within his right.
25 Sep 2012 02:09PMYEA RIGHT
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