A recidivist violent offender who punched his pregnant partner and treated her in a "degrading, disgusting, controlling fashion" has been given one last chance by a judge.
Judge Emma Smith said Matama Tama Tahiri (33), who appeared in the Dunedin District Court this week, was "as much a victim, as well as a perpetrator of violence" .
Tahiri had an extensive criminal background, with violence a recurring theme in his life.
On October 20, Tahiri and his pregnant partner were at a backpackers in Christchurch when the man began looking through her cellphone.
Believing the woman was cheating on him, a verbal argument began.
Tahiri punched the woman in the face, telling her to compile a list of the people she had slept with while they had been in a relationship.
The victim refused and Tahiri punched her in the face multiple times.
Escaping to the street, the victim asked a member of the public for help.
"She was pregnant with your unborn child," Judge Smith said.
"You treated her in a degrading, disgusting, controlling fashion."
The victim was vulnerable and the abuse in the relationship was getting worse, the court heard.
Court documents revealed Tahiri had been very forthcoming about his issues, admitting to a growing paranoia that was perpetuated by drug use.
"Your insecurities resulted in the use of methamphetamine," the judge said.
"You did not want to blame anyone else for that."
Counsel Andrew Belcher told of his client’s "remarkable insight and remarkable remorse", with Tahiri spending time at residential rehabilitation facility, Moana House.
"He acknowledges the whole toxicity of the relationship from his part."
Tahiri revealed his state of mind in a statement: "I held her hostage in that moment. I felt like I was hurting so much, I wanted to inflict that back on you"".
The man was supported by his partner and newborn baby, with the woman expressing a desire to make the relationship work in order for Tahiri to be the best father to his child, the court heard.
Judge Smith kept the victim at the forefront of her decision: "I am prepared to listen to her, in that you are a man deserving of another opportunity."
"This is probably the last time you will get a sentence designed to rehabilitate you."
Tahiri was convicted of assault with intent to injure, threatening to kill and aggravated disqualified driving for an earlier incident.
He was sentenced to five months’ home detention and disqualified from driving for 13 months.
Tahiri would serve his sentence of home detention at Moana House, where he was reportedly "doing particularly well".
