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Offender Databases Lance Mati

Lance Samuel Mati

Alias

.

Offences

Grievous bodily harm on a Nelson man causing him permanent incapacity in March 2009

Victims

.

Offender Affiliations

.

Gang affiliations

none known

Age

Born 1989

Current Location

Unknown

Parole/Release Dates

Sentenced to 3 years 9 months in May 2009

Background
From the Nelson Mail 29th May 2009
A "cowardly" Nelson man who king hit a person in the face with a glass during an unprovoked attack in a pub, scarring the victim for life, has been sent to prison. Lance Samuel Mati, 20, was sentenced in Nelson District Court yesterday to three years' and nine months' jail, having previously admitted one charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

In March, Mati stood behind his "vulnerable victim" before hitting him in the face, shattering the glass and hospitalising the man, who needed 40 stitches, Judge Tony Zohrab told the court. Mati was drinking at the Grumpy Mole bar in Nelson in the early hours of March 15 with a group of friends. The victim was sitting nearby with a group who were verbally abused by Mati's friends who accused the group of staring.

A man from Mati's group started to poke the victim in the temple and got a glass, tapping it on his head while verbally abusing the man, Judge Zohrab said. He said the victim remained passive. Mati then approached the victim from behind and smashed the glass in his face. Judge Zohrab said the victim was lucky not to lose an eye. The victim impact statement said the victim had facial scars for life and his eye was sensitive to sunlight.

Judge Zohrab said the attack was serious, unprovoked violence on a vulnerable person and he expressed concern over Mati's long-standing issues with alcohol which had led to three other convictions in the past. Mati's lawyer Mark Dollimore said his client accepted he would go to prison. His parents were worried about him going to prison, his problem with alcohol and the "boozy crowd" he hung around with, Mr Dollimore said.

"They want to try their best to nurture him through the sentence." "He's been quite honest and told the probation officer, 'I like to drink, party and I like to fight'." Mr Dollimore said that was the "old Lance" and that Mati had undertaken alcohol rehabilitation and wanted to know what education and alcohol counselling would be available in prison.

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Corrections and Additional Information
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