A Dunedin prisoner coward-punched a fellow inmate leaving him unconscious for three minutes, a court has heard.<\/p>\n
Romeo Te Hei Williams, 24, appeared in the Dunedin District Court today after earlier pleading guilty to injuring by unlawful act.<\/p>\n
The court heard that the defendant was serving a lengthy sentence for being a party to an aggravated robbery.<\/p>\n
On February 17, he was in the exercise yard with the victim, who was participating in a \u201cmutual fight\u201d.<\/p>\n
Williams punched the prisoner in the back of the head causing him to fall to the ground, where he lay unconscious for three minutes.<\/p>\n
The victim spent the night in hospital, but recovered without long-lasting injuries, the court heard.<\/p>\n
Judge David Robinson said the attack was \u201ccalculated\u201d and Williams had used a “tremendous amount of force\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat you did was the definition of what we call a coward’s punch,\u201d the judge said.<\/p>\n
Williams\u2019 attitude toward the offending was concerning, with the judge noting he laughed when discussing the offending with a probation officer and boasted about the injuries he had caused.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou seemed pretty pleased with what you\u2019d achieved,\u201d Judge Robinson said.<\/p>\n
The court heard the victim was a member of an opposing gang.<\/p>\n
The judge sentenced Williams to 10 months and two weeks\u2019 imprisonment on top of the sentence he was already serving.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve made light of some of the process,\u201d the judge said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis stuff is serious, really serious, you need to reflect on your choice of associates, your gang allegiance and your attitude toward violence.\u201d<\/p>\n