Man appeals 'excessive' jail term

An Invercargill man sentenced to more than two years' jail after he repeatedly punched a man outside a city shop has appealed against his sentence.

Raynor Ranui Larsen was given a jail sentence by Judge Kevin Phillips when he appeared in the Invercargill District Court in January on charges of assault with a weapon at Queenstown on June 27, assault with intent to injure, injuring with intent to injure and assaulting a female on August 8, and breaches of community work and supervision.

At the sentencing, the court was told Larsen had threatened the man in the shop before following him outside and punching him "in a barrage of blows".

Judge Phillips sentenced Larsen to two years and 10 months' jail.

However, yesterday Larsen's lawyer Sonia Vidal argued that sentence was excessive.

Making submissions to Justice John Fogarty in the High Court, Ms Vidal said the judge's starting point for sentence was too high, and had included uplifts that should not have been used.

However, Crown prosecutor Mike Mika maintained the sentence was not manifestly excessive and reflected the seriousness of the crimes.

Justice Fogarty reserved his decision.

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