A Queenstown musician who seriously assaulted his ex-girlfriend’s new partner has been given a second chance to address his alcohol issues.
Matthaeus Te Raroa Hiemer was drinking with mates in the CBD about 4am on July 15 when he saw his former girlfriend with the victim in Queenstown Mall.
The boozed-up 24-year-old followed the couple, and as they reached Church St, ran at the victim and tackled him from behind.
Hiemer then delivered a ‘‘flurry of forceful, closed-fist punches with alternating fists’’ to the victim’s head and face, the police summary of facts says.
Passersby intervened and protected the victim until the cops arrived.
The victim suffered a cut above his left eye, and swelling on one side of his face.
In his victim impact statement he wrote: ‘‘I’m always going to watch my back when I’m out’’, in case Hiemer decided to have another go at him in the future.
Hiemer told police the victim punched him first, but CCTV footage showed that to be a lie.
He was charged with assault with intent to injure and resisting police in relation to the incident, as well as a charge of breaching a community work sentence imposed last year for other offending.
The three convictions add to the six he’d already racked up since moving to Queenstown in 2021, including two for common assault.
In May last year he was sentenced to community work and supervision, the latter to enable intervention for his drinking and violence issues.
Hiemer was told by the sentencing judge then he’d reached a ‘‘crossroads’’, and more offending would likely lead to prison.
However, at his sentencing in Queenstown’s court this week, Judge Catriona Doyle gave him another chance to confront his demons.
She was satisfied his remorse was genuine, and that he understood further offending was likely to result in a more punitive sentence.
She also took account of a tearful plea by his mother, from the public gallery, to give him another opportunity to turn his life around.
Doyle ordered Hiemer to pay the victim $400 reparation for emotional harm, and imposed 12 months’ intensive supervision.
The latter will be judicially monitored, which means she’ll receive a report on how he’s doing every three months from his probation officer.
Conditions of Hiemer’s supervision include undergoing alcohol and drug counselling, and completing a non-violence programme.
Other convictions
● Jack Clayton, 22, landscape gardener, of Queenstown, drink-driving (772mcg), Frankton Rd, October 21, fined $800, disqualified six months.
● Ryan William Scheib, 33, of Arthurs Point, breaching zero-alcohol licence (30mg), September 2, Queenstown, fined $500, medical and analyst fees $215.34, disqualified three months, zero-alcohol licence provisions.
