The wife of an Auckland man who walked free after pleading guilty to attacking her says he shouldn't be punished.
Yasir Mohib, 31, was discharged without conviction in April after pleading guilty to assault with a weapon and threatening behaviour over the 2015 attack on his wife Fatimah.
But a High Court judge has now overturned that decision and ordered Mohib to return to court for sentencing.
"I don't think he should be punished," Fatimah told TV3's Story programme. "We are all human beings and we all do make mistakes."
In the interview, the couple denied reports a hammer was used in the attack.
"I won't deny he did hit me because we had an argument, but there was no hammer involved, no weapon. He just hit me with his hands," said Fatimah.
The court had heard Mohib hit her multiple times with a hammer, leaving her with bruises to her face, head, arm and leg.
"The victim begged for her life and Mr Mohib relented, stopped the attack and then hugged the victim," the court file said.
However, Fatimah told Story that's not true, and a third party convinced her to tell police a hammer was involved.
"A third party was involved and they had already given a statement and then they persuaded me to give their statement," she said.
District Court judge Philippa Cunningham discharged Mohib without conviction because she said there was a risk he would be deported to Pakistan, and be unable to support his three New Zealand-born children.
Now her decision has been overturned, convictions have been entered against Mohib and he will go back to the District Court for sentencing.
Justice Edwin Wylie in the High Court said he had doubts about Mohib's insight into his offending and that it seemed he was keen to blame the victim and her family.
"I'm ready to face punishment for that," says Mohib. "I did that wrong and I should be punished for that. I'm not denying it."
"I think we all should help him and deal with this situation, rather than just blaming him and tell him he should leave the country," said Fatimah.
Story approached Judge Cunningham for her response, however judges are not permitted to comment on specific cases.
In the interview with Story, Mohib also discussed his unusual living arrangements, admitting he has two wives.
"If you come and visit our house you will see that we are living a totally normal life," he said.
"I think that if I'm upfront and I'm honest with both of my wives and both of them are happy, both of them are living together happily and they've got no problems with it, I don't think I should be questioned about the way of life we are living."
Newshub.
