Teen jailed after assault blinded victim [1]
Thursday, December 21, 2017 - 21:15
Mumuhu Pou’uhila (18) was sentenced to three and a half years imprisonment for causing grievous bodily harm to Nelesoni Tu’itavake, when he threw a brick hitting his face causing him to go blind in the eye.
The prisoner had pleaded guilty to the one count and was sentenced by Hon Justice Cato on December 14, at the Nuku’alofa Supreme Court.
The court heard on April 1 earlier this year at Longoteme, the prisoner together with others caused grievous bodily harm to the victim, when he threw a brick that hit his face causing the destruction of his eyeball.
Nelesoni was taken to Vaiola hospital and a preliminary medical report said he had sustained multiple broken facial bones around the right orbit of his face. Further information from the doctor indicated that his sight is lost in that eye and he is blind, said the judge.
The prisoner had played no further part in the fight other than throwing the brick. What he did was extremely serious. Teenage fighting among youth in Tonga is not uncommon and often stones are used as weapons, he said.
“In this case, the assault blinded a young man which is a very serious consequence. Plainly the brick or part was thrown at the victim with considerable force.”
The court heard the prisoner who has no previous convictions, had apologized and is remorseful.
He was sentenced to three and a half-years imprisonment, to be backdated to when he was remanded in custody.
The judge then suspended the final 18-months of his sentence on strict conditions, included being placed under probation, not consume alcohol while on probation and attend a life skills and violence course at the direction of the probation officer.