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Deaf mute league player faces jail - New Zealand news on Stuff.co.nz
Taranaki rugby league representative Wiremu Parker is facing a lengthy jail sentence after being convicted of a vicious assault.
The 22-year-old, also known as Wiremu Raana, was heralded as one of the most promising league forwards to come out of the province after making his provincial debut as an 18-year-old.
A deaf mute, the 190cm, 100kg prop was offered a professional contract two years ago with New South Wales rugby league club, the Mittagong Lions.
He returned to Taranaki last year to play for the Taranaki Sharks.
But in February he went to his aunt's address in Waitara, where he violently assaulted her in an unprovoked attack.
According to the Crown summary in the New Plymouth District Court, Parker approached the victim, who was sitting at her kitchen table with her three-year-old son. He knocked her to the ground with a single punch to the face, opening up a large cut.
As she went to get up, Parker again punched her to the ground. A third punch followed as the victim tried to get a towel from the kitchen to help stop the bleeding.
When she went to call police, Parker grabbed the telephone and threw it across the living room.
As his aunt desperately tried to leave the property with her young son, Parker lunged at her, forcing them to the ground.
Finally, when Parker's attention was diverted, the victim managed to escape into the house and call police before she hid in the garden shed.
Police arrested Parker a short time later.
He was due to be sentenced in the New Plymouth District Court yesterday after admitting a charge of injuring with intent. He has also admitted breaching a protection order and unlawfully taking a motor vehicle.
But his defence counsel, Turitea Bolstad, said she has been unable to find help for Parker with support agencies because of his deafness.
She said it was clear he had issues with violence and needed help.
Judge David Ongley said while a jail sentence was inevitable, he had to make sure the right support was in place before he was sentenced.
Parker, who has already been on remand in New Plymouth prison since February, will be sentenced on May 24.
Taranaki rugby league representative Wiremu Parker is facing a lengthy jail sentence after being convicted of a vicious assault.
The 22-year-old, also known as Wiremu Raana, was heralded as one of the most promising league forwards to come out of the province after making his provincial debut as an 18-year-old.
A deaf mute, the 190cm, 100kg prop was offered a professional contract two years ago with New South Wales rugby league club, the Mittagong Lions.
He returned to Taranaki last year to play for the Taranaki Sharks.
But in February he went to his aunt's address in Waitara, where he violently assaulted her in an unprovoked attack.
According to the Crown summary in the New Plymouth District Court, Parker approached the victim, who was sitting at her kitchen table with her three-year-old son. He knocked her to the ground with a single punch to the face, opening up a large cut.
As she went to get up, Parker again punched her to the ground. A third punch followed as the victim tried to get a towel from the kitchen to help stop the bleeding.
When she went to call police, Parker grabbed the telephone and threw it across the living room.
As his aunt desperately tried to leave the property with her young son, Parker lunged at her, forcing them to the ground.
Finally, when Parker's attention was diverted, the victim managed to escape into the house and call police before she hid in the garden shed.
Police arrested Parker a short time later.
He was due to be sentenced in the New Plymouth District Court yesterday after admitting a charge of injuring with intent. He has also admitted breaching a protection order and unlawfully taking a motor vehicle.
But his defence counsel, Turitea Bolstad, said she has been unable to find help for Parker with support agencies because of his deafness.
She said it was clear he had issues with violence and needed help.
Judge David Ongley said while a jail sentence was inevitable, he had to make sure the right support was in place before he was sentenced.
Parker, who has already been on remand in New Plymouth prison since February, will be sentenced on May 24.