A man was lucky he was not being sentenced on a murder or manslaughter charge after he beat up a student in an unprovoked attack, a court has heard.
The victim, Laurent Edwards, and his friend were only steps away from Mr Edwards’ Herbert St home on the night he was attacked about 1.55am.
Mr Edwards’ victim impact statement was read out by his mother Letesha Edwards in court yesterday.
He wrote how he thought he was going to die on the night of the attack, and recalled his head hitting the pavement, being knocked unconscious and being dragged along the road by his feet.
"I remember people helping me and I am really grateful to them," Mrs Edwards read out.
The attack left him with injuries to his face, grazes and bruises to his torso and a concussion which had affected his ability to do university studies.
He felt anxious and angry for weeks after the assault.
Herbert admitted to police he had punched Mr Edwards in the face and used his leg to cause him to fall over, but said he was unsure if he had helped drag him along the road.
Judge Brandts-Giesen said Herbert knew his actions were disgraceful and the attack was unprovoked and indefensible.
While he gave credit to him for owning up to what he had done, he said he was lucky he was not being sentenced on a charge of murder or manslaughter.
"He could have hit his head on a kerb and been dead before you knew it."
Herbert was sentenced to six months’ community detention, 100 hours’ community work and 12 months’ supervision and ordered to pay $1000 emotional harm reparation.
