Man bashed in Anzac eve fracas

A Masterton woman has pleaded guilty to bashing a friend over the head repeatedly with a wooden table leg after he spat on a photo of her father, a Korean War veteran, the evening before Anzac Day.

In Masterton District Court yesterday, Kirsten Marama Kathryn Maynard, 48, pleaded guilty to one charge of assault with a blunt instrument.

The assault took place on April 24, when Maynard and two friends had been drinking together for half the day at her home in Masterton.

At about 8pm the victim left to get more wine, stopping off at his ex-partner's house on his way back.

He returned to Maynard's house at about 10pm and continued drinking.

Police said Maynard became angry and left the room, returning a little later with a wooden table leg and then started to hit the victim over the head with it three or four times.

Their drinking companion separated the pair and the victim left the house, bleeding from a large wound on the back of his head.

Maynard's lawyer, Peter Stevens, said the attack had been provoked.

It was the night before Anzac Day and Maynard had planned to take the photo of her father, a member of the K Force army contingent which took part in the Korean War, to the dawn parade.

The K Force was a 1500-strong ground force, mainly composed of a field artillery regiment and a transport squadron.

New Zealand's commitment to the Korean War cost the lives of 45 New Zealanders.

Judge Barbara Morris said it was understandable Maynard was upset by her friend spitting on the photo, but it did not justify her behaviour.

She remanded Maynard on bail until July 7 for sentencing.