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Offender Databases Natini Samuela

Natini Samuela

Alias

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Offences

Disfigured his partner causing her grevious bodily harm in Shirley, Christchurch in September 2002

Victims

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Offender Affiliations

.

Gang affiliations

none known

Age

Born 1968

Current Location

unknown

Parole/Release Dates

Sentenced to 8 years 6 months in November 2002
A non-parole period of 5 years 6 months was imposed

Background
From the Press (Christchurch) November 2nd 2002
Gashed from eye to jawline with a filleting knife, a woman faces disfigurement for life after a horrific slashing attack by her partner. In the Christchurch District Court, Natini Samuela, 34, was jailed for 8 years six months by Judge Stephen Erber. Because the case was close to as bad as it could get, he would have to serve a non- parole period of 5 years six months, the judge said. Samuela had admitted a charge of disfiguring with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Judge Erber said Samuela had been in a relationship with the 24- year-old victim. No doubt affected by liquor, he had punched her several times after an argument, and then prevented an attempt to ring her family. She picked up their 11-month-old child and again tried to use the telephone, when Samuela had got the knife and deliberately inflicted several very deep cuts to her face in about six blows. One of them went deeply from her left eye to the jawline.

"It does not appear there were any other injuries except to her face, and I conclude you intended to disfigure her," the judge said. "Disfigurement was clearly the purpose of the attack. "Extensive reconstructive surgery was needed, she was severely affected and was embarrassed to show her face in public, he said. Counsel Melinda Mason said Samuela had entered an early guilty plea, was horrified, and acknowledged his violence needed addressing. He grew up in the Pacific Islands, and there was a cultural background, she said.

Prosecutor James Rapley said the horrific injuries posed ongoing problems for the victim with permanent scarring, and paralysis to the forehead, and warranted an appropriate punishment. Judge Erber noted Samuela had told the probation service the victim had done nothing wrong, and he appeared to think some sort of domestic violence was acceptable.

"This is very serious offending indeed, and I take the view it is near to the most serious case of its type. "The victim remained very angry, and the attack had been made worse because she was already scarred from a motor accident. It had elements of cruelty and callousness. Also, she was holding a child at the time and was unable to defend herself, and there was no provocation. The offending was serious enough to warrant the maximum non- parole period, he said.

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Corrections and Additional Information
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