Hammer blow wrecked man's life

Only hours after receiving the Western Sharks' best player award, rugby-mad Kevin Morrissy was struck with a hammer by two young men outside a drinking hole.

A single blow cracked his skull, compressing it against his brain, ruining his life.

The attack, outside the Central Hotel in Dargaville on May 5, 2012, left him with difficulties communicating. He tires easily and suffers from short-term memory loss.

A passionate rugby player who also travelled the United States for seven years on his own, he cannot go to town alone now and doctors don't know whether or not he'll be able to fully regain his speech.

His attackers, Rere Pumipi, 20, and Baden Collins-Powell, 21, were yesterday sentenced in the Whangarei District Court to three years and nine months in jail for the gratuitous street violence.

Both earlier pleaded guilty to charges of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to injure, and assault with a weapon.

Mr Morrissy managed to speak only briefly while addressing the court before the rest of his victim impact statement was read out by a support person.

"I hate to understand why someone who I've met only twice before will want to kill me with a hammer," he said.

Mr Morrissy said he "just about" died but the attack turned him into a frustrated man who was unable to talk to people or go out on his own.

With a metal plate inserted in his head and the difficulties, including frequent headaches, he said he would never be able to play rugby again.

He's volunteered to do gardening for the elderly for a couple of hours a week and will soon start going to a gymnasium.

Pumipi's grandmother also spoke in court, saying she hoped one day families from both sides would be be able to make peace with each other.

She broke into tears and embraced Mr Morrissy after her address.

Judge Duncan Harvey said Pumipi was in a fighting mood inside the hotel and had already approached two patrons before arguing with Mr Morrissy outside the building.

He pushed Mr Morrissy with both hands before Collins-Powell fronted up.

Pumipi then called out to Collins-Powell to get a hammer which was in a car and which was later used to strike Mr Morrissy on his head.

As he was falling to the ground, Collins-Powell struck him with a beer bottle.

Judge Harvey said the gratuitous street violence had the most dreadful consequences for Mr Morrissy, whose injuries would affect him for the rest of his life.

No sentence would make up for the injuries inflicted on him or their ongoing effects, he said.

Judge Harvey said both men had problems with alcohol and anger and that he would be surprised if they were released by the Parole Board before those issues were addressed.