Tongan jailed for assaulting NZ policeman in traffic stop [1]
Thursday, July 27, 2017 - 14:52. Updated on Thursday, July 27, 2017 - 15:52.
A New Zealand court has sentenced a 22-year-old Tongan man, Finau Tuitupou, to 2 years and nine months’ imprisonment for the assault of a senior New Zealand police constable. The sentencing took place last week at the Manukau District Court. Another 18-year-old Tongan man has been accused of participating in the assault and is due for sentencing later this year.
The Manukau District Court declared that Finau attacked the constable during a routine traffic stop in the suburb of Otahuhu on May 28 last year. Finau knocked the constable to the ground with a foray of punches in an assault which lasted for about 30 seconds. He then fled the scene after a passing truck driver stopped to help the police officer.
"I could feel the punches landing to the back of my head before I hit the ground," stated the constable who recounted the incident in a victim’s impact statement.
The constable said that Finau Tuitupou was a rear passenger in a vehicle that he pulled over at about 3.49am on May 28. He said that Finau – who was breaching parole for previous convictions – suddenly attacked him.
"I thought the rear male passenger (Tuitupou) was going to run but when I looked up I was blindsided.”
The constable alleged that while he was lying on the ground, a second passenger in the vehicle stabbed him a screwdriver.
"I was lying on the ground in a pool of my own blood,” he said.
"I remember waiting for the final punch, which would have been lights out,"
Finau and the other accused passenger were arrested the next day. Finau was charged with injuring with intent to injure, assault and breaching his parole.
The constable said that the attack left him psychologically and physically scarred
"I am not the same person anymore and my wife would agree ... I now approach every car with a sense of mistrust," he said.