(TAN): A 17-year-old youth who inflicted serious stab wounds to a French tourist, requiring further surgeries five months on, has been jailed for two years and one month, reported The Gisborne Herald.
Preston Taiapa, now aged 18, appeared in Gisborne District Court for sentencing on charges of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, attempted aggravated robbery and dangerous driving causing injury, all committed on the night of June 22.
Judge Warren Cathcart said on the night of the incident, the French tourist Christophe Luc Francois Bretille, about to enter Jetts gym in Gladstone Road, Gisborne, agreed to a request by Taiapa to drive him home.
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The 32-year-old Frenchman drove to a Belfast Crescent address where he was offered and accepted cannabis. He then reportedly refused to drive to a remote location that Taiapa had asked him to.
At Belfast Crescent Taiapa asked Bretille to get out of the car. The youth then tried to stab the tourist who was able to drive away, but not before Taiapa was able to get back into the car and begin the stabbing and punching attack, according to reports.
Taiapa grabbed the steering wheel of the vehicle, which crashed into a house in Ranfurly Street. Taiapa ran back to Belfast Crescent and the Frenchman was taken to hospital.
Bretille suffered lacerations and stab wounds to his hands, and near his elbow, a broken jaw, broken teeth and broken nose and awaiting more surgery. Reports said, Taiapa had apologised several times for the incidents.
