A visibly upset judge today told a teenager convicted of sexual violation: "If I had my way I would release you today, but I can't."
Christchurch District Court Judge Jane Farish spoke of the youth, naivety, and the good family background of Maia Crawford Rongonui who had attacked a young Australian woman tourist in a dark Christchurch street.
"If I had it within my power today I would release you to your family," the judge said. "They would ensure you would do anything not to come back to court."
Instead, she jailed the 19-year-old for four years after he was convicted by a jury of assaulting the woman with intent to commit rape, and sexually violating her by unlawful sexual connection.
Rongonui, a shearer from Masterton, was only 17 when he committed the attack. The judge said she was worried about the effect prison would have on the teenager.
"I have some concerns, as your mother does, about you being corrupted while in jail." She hoped the Parole Board would quickly consider his release to the community and his family.
Judge Farish had earlier told crown prosecutor Ruth Thomas that she believed Rongonui needed to "get back to his family and back to a job".
"Keeping a young man of 19 (in prison) for a lengthy period of time is really only going to ruin him, particularly when he has such good family support."
Mrs Thomas said she believed Rongonui still did not fully accept what had happened, and the crown believed the attack had been premeditated.
Judge Farish did not accept that. She accepted the victim was vulnerable because she was a visitor to Christchurch, who had lost her way and become separated from her friends. Rongonui was friendly and offered to show her the way to her backpackers' hostel.
Instead, he led her down a dark inner city street, Aberdeen Street off Manchester Street. Judge Farish said she believed Rongonui had been hopeful of a sexual encounter, and something snapped when the woman rebuffed him. He punched her and kicked her as well as trying to remove her pants. The woman fought back and was able to escape, but semen from Rongonui was found on her clothing.
Mrs Thomas told the court the woman - now a student living on Queensland's Gold Coast - had significant and ongoing effects from the attack.
Defence counsel Simon Shamy said Rongonui had been an immature 17-year-old at the time of the offence. Judge Farish said Rongonui had left school at age 14 and had excelled in his work as a shearer.
But he had inexplicably come to the attention of the authorities at the age of 17, amassing 18 convictions over five months, including the two today.
