A Balclutha man who pushed his wife and threatened her with a knife has been discharged without conviction, after the judge heard he was at risk of deportation.
Warren Agajona (42), originally from the Philippines, appeared in the Dunedin District Court on charges of male assaults female and threatening behaviour.
He pleaded guilty to both charges.
Judge John MacDonald said he pushed her in the face, and grabbed her by the hair before taking a knife from the kitchen and making "some kind of threat", after an argument on August 7.
Defence counsel Anne Stevens said while a discharge without conviction was unusual for family violence charges, his actions were "at the lower end".
"He's a very hard-working man of good character."
There was a "very high likelihood" of deportation if he was convicted, which would be out of all proportion to the gravity of the offending, she said.
Judge MacDonald agreed Agajona having to return to the Philippines was "not a particularly palatable option".
He ordered Agajona to pay $750 emotional harm reparation, and discharged him without conviction.
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Comments
I think "of good character" is questionable.
"He's a very hard-working man of good character."
I BEAT MY WIFE AND THREATEN HER WITH A KNIFE! I'M THE GREATEST CHARACTER!
"Ok, so I'm going to let you off with no punishment because of the risk of punishment if I was to punish you."
That's the stupidest thing I've heard... well, actually just today, really.
Hey, Judge McDonald.
You're a terrible judge of character and therefore patently unfit for purpose as a judge.
Unless of course you are wanting to be a terrible judge in which case you are bang on the money.
That's all, you can go now.
what an insult to the victim.This bullying wifebeater who threatens her with a knife is no man of good character.How can he be able to be discharged without conviction and basically been told his offending was lower end.This sort of attitude was common 50 years ago it has no place in the criminal courts of today.What a disappointing and disrespectful sexist judgement.Shame on the defence lawyer and double shame on judge MacyD