Adam Steven Kiernan-James, 21, and Eamon Mataatua Buick, 21, were sentenced to home detention yesterday, after earlier admitting wounding with intent to injure and assault with intent to injure.
The Dunedin District Court court heard that on March 9 the defendants were at a gig at Errick’s in Princes St.
One of the victims was excluded from the venue and his friend followed.
Shortly after, Buick and Kiernan-James left and searched for the victims.
When they found them Kiernan-James ran at the first victim and threw a haymaker-style punch to his face, knocking the man to the ground where he lay unconscious.
Kiernan-James then punched towards the other victim and they grappled as the victim tried to keep him at arm’s length.
Meanwhile, as the victim on the ground attempted to move, Buick kneed his upper body before getting on top of him and delivering two blows to his head.
He then joined Kiernan-James, who was still grappling with the other victim.
Kiernan-James knocked that victim to the ground and threw another haymaker.
When he got to his feet, the victim put his hands up, indicating he was surrendering.
He walked over to where his friend lay on the ground.
The defendants followed him and Buick delivered an "explosive kick" to the victim’s legs, the crown summary said.
Kiernan-James recorded himself punching the man’s head, knocking him off his feet.
When the victim tried to stand, Kiernan-James struck him in the head again.
The violence only stopped when a passer-by approached the group.
The first victim required surgery for a fractured jaw, and also suffered a concussion and cuts to his head.
The second victim had headaches for multiple days, and grazes to his arms.
Initially, the defendants told police the victims had been kicked out of the venue for assaulting them, but they admitted they had little memory of the night due to their intoxication.
One victim described the attack as "violent and unfair" and "horrific".
He said he "cannot fathom why another human would film what was occurring to them".
Judge Emma Smith noted both students had clean criminal records and were very remorseful.
She said Buick had undertaken counselling and a stopping-violence course.
Judge Smith noted Kiernan-James had only recently revealed the offending to his family, but accepted he was also remorseful.
"You know no apology can undo the harm," she said.
Judge Smith sentenced Kiernan-James to 11 months’ home detention and Buick to 10 months’ home detention.
She ordered each defendant to pay $1582.50 to the first victim and $1000 to the second.
