Kawe appeared apologetic while in the dock, and politely thanked Judge Jo Rielly when sentencing was over.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat you did on that day was very concerning, but you are a person who, for the most part, contributes to the community in a very positive way,\u201d Judge Rielly said in calculating his final sentence, from a starting point of nine months in prison.<\/p>\n
Kawe had already spent 45 days in custody on remand and four months on electronically monitored bail, which was factored into the end sentence.<\/p>\n
Judge Rielly also noted his prior convictions, which showed alcohol had \u201cgot him into trouble several times\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u2018Came off second best\u2019<\/p>\n
The court heard that, on the evening of November 29 last year, Kawe was at a house in Nelson<\/a> where an argument broke out between him and others.<\/p>\n Crown prosecutor Daniel Baxter said the argument turned physical and Kawe \u201ccame off second-best\u201d. <\/p>\n \u201cIt may have spurred him into the action he might not normally have done,\u201d Baxter said.<\/p>\n Defence lawyer Josh Friend said there had been an incident which resulted in Kawe being injured and \u201cspurred him into the ridiculous action\u201d.<\/p>\n Kawe left the house and went to a nearby building site, where a digger was parked in the enclosed construction area.<\/p>\n He siphoned diesel from the machine and used the fuel to make a Molotov cocktail, the summary of facts said. <\/p>\nSam Kawe was sentenced in Nelson District Court. Photo \/ Tracy Neal<\/p>\n