A former naval rating who killed a trainee teacher with a single punch has been jailed for two years and four months.
Grenville David McFarland, 27, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in February following the death of Tarun Asthana in Auckland last November.
Members of both men's families were present at the sentencing in Auckland's High Court this morning.
In a victim impact statement read to the court, Mr Asthana's mother tearfully described her son as a "warm, loving, affectionate boy".
"Only a mother will understand what it is to lose her son. I feel like a part of me has been lost," she said. "All my dreams, all my plans, all my hopes for Tarun were taken away in that deadly blow."
Ms Asthana spoke of arriving in New Zealand eight years ago with the hope of giving her children a better life.
She said her son was "intelligent and well-liked" but had fallen into the country's drinking culture through peer pressure. His "sheer cheekiness" had gotten him in trouble, she said.
"I'm sure Grenville never thought his blow would kill my Tarun. I hope in the future he realises there is a better way to deal with the situation rather than having to use his fists."
McFarland had completed restorative justice sessions with Mr Asthana's family, who had accepted an apology from him.
McFarland punched Mr Asthana outside McDonald's in Queen St, in Auckland, because he was angry at the way Mr Asthana was acting towards a woman he had met that night. McFarland says Mr Asthana tried to make conversation with the woman, which she ignored, before slapping her bottom as she left the restaurant.
Angered by his behaviour, McFarland swore at Mr Asthana and punched him hard in the face. Mr Asthana hit his head on the ground when he fell and died three days later in Auckland Hospital.
McFarland left the scene immediately after the incident, but reported to the navy and police as soon he realised he had seriously injured Mr Asthana.
Defence lawyer Ron Mansfield called McFarland's action an "impulsive response to an assault on someone he knew" and said he was now educating others about the danger of using violence to settle disputes.
He said his client was "genuinely remorseful and poses no threat to our community".
Justice Pamela Andrews said she took into account the fact McFarland had shown "deep and genuine remorse" and had taken responsibility for his actions early on but imposed a jail sentence to show such behaviour is unacceptable.
3 News
source: newshub archive
