Editorial: No excuse for act of violence

Drinking too much alcohol is not an excuse to punch and kick someone, writes Linda Hall. Pictured is Jacob Patrick Broderick. Photo / Paul Taylor

What sort of message does the sentence handed down to Jacob Patrick Broderick for his part in a brutal attack on a Hastings man send our young ones?

That it's okay to bash someone as long as you play sport? That's it's okay to bash someone as long as you are sorry about it afterwards?

Broderick and Falcon Kaine Walsh, who was jailed for two years and six months for his part in the bashing on August 3 last year, left their victim bleeding and unconscious after a brutal and vicious assault in Havelock North.

But that wasn't the end of it. These two went on to Havelock North McDonald's where they bragged about it.

Why is one sentenced to jail while the other, who threw the first punch, gets four months' community detention, 200 hours' community work and nine months' supervision.

The judge, Bridget Mackintosh, said Broderick was acting "out of character" and that there had been a "developmental block in the brain, which is apparent by this kind of conduct".

She said the beating was "probably fuelled by alcohol" and described it as a "brain explosion".

A brain explosion? What is a brain explosion?

Drinking too much alcohol is not an excuse to punch and kick someone. If every teenager in Hawke's Bay who had too much to drink at the weekend had a "brain explosion", the place would be chaotic.

Yes, young people who drink too much do some stupid things, but 99.9 per cent of them don't go around beating up people on the street.

Drinking is no excuse, neither is a brain explosion ... and the fact that he plays sport, well, who cares?

Not the victim. I wonder if he will ever be able to play sport again.