Girl's attack filmed for broadcast

The savage bashing and stomping of a 16-year-old girl in the streets of Christchurch was recorded on a cellphone so that the video could be put on the internet, Christchurch District Court was told today.

Steven Law-Baty, 23, was jailed for 18 months for his role in the attack.

He pleaded guilty to injuring the girl with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, but was the only one of five offenders to be imprisoned. The other four, aged 15 and 16, were dealt with in the Youth Court.

Law-Baty's counsel Ruth Buddicom told the court he knew nothing about the filming of the attack which took place in suburban Sydenham.

"He was completely unaware of any photographing or filming of the attack and finds that quite abhorrent," she told Judge Raoul Neave.

He joined in at the late stage in the attack, kicking the girl in the face with his steel-capped boots.

"What did he think was going on?" Judge Neave asked Miss Buddicom.

"He regarded this as a 'bitch fight'," Miss Buddicom replied. "Sadly that is the reality of the lives of these young people. It is not unusual for this young man to see something like that."

Judge Neave suggested a home detention sentence but no suitable address was available, so Judge Neave granted Law-Baty leave to substitute the sentence if he was able to arrange an address.

Law-Baty's "functional age" was far lower than his actual age, Miss Buddicom said. He was transient, and had no support or social network.

"There's a longstanding alcohol addiction. There's a long-standing depression overlay."

Law-Baty was with the group of teenage boys and girls who confronted the victim accusing her of being of cheating on her boyfriend.

She was then punched to the ground where the attackers took turns to holding her while the others kicked and stomped her on the face and body.

The attackers then invited a youth to kick her in the face, and he kicked her so hard he injured his foot.

Weapons were then used by the others in the group. A belt was used so hard that it broke. The two younger women spat on the victim and scratched her on the face with their fingernails.

Then Law-Baty joined in, kicking her in the face four times with his steel-capped boots. The others said they heard crunching noises as the kicks went in.

"Each of you were yelling and swearing at the victim and encouraging others in the course of the attack," said Judge Neave.

"The younger male recorded the final stages of the attack on his cellphone to place on the internet."

The attack only stopped when someone managed to get help from a passing motorist.

The judge described the behaviour of the girls in the group as "utterly appalling".

The victim suffered severe injuries including broken teeth, bruising and cuts, and had been left with psychological difficulties.

Judge Neave noted Law-Baty had four previous convictions for violence and numerous convictions for dishonesty and property offences.

He had the support of his mother and stepfather but was not living with them.

"Effectively you have been heading on your own way to destruction and won't listen to anyone who tries to stop you," said the judge.

- NZPA