Man jailed for biting partner's lip off

Lene Solomua has been sentenced to four years and seven months in prison for attacking his partner.

Lene Solomua punched his partner in the head before he pulled her face towards his, leaned in close and bit her bottom lip off, a court has heard.

Details of the "serious and callous" attack were revealed at the Auckland District Court when the 43-year-old was sentenced to four years and seven months in prison after pleading guilty to a charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Judge Grant Fraser said Solomua and his partner had been drinking at a nightclub in January before they were driven to a house in the west Auckland suburb of Avondale.

Solomua's partner was in the front seat with Solomua seated behind her.

Judge Fraser said the police summary of facts showed Solomua and his partner had a "heated verbal exchange" before Solomua began punching her in the head.

"You then grabbed her head with your two hands and forcibly twisted her head around until she was facing you. While still holding her head, you put your face over her mouth and bit her on her lower lip, completely severing her lower lip from her face."

One of Solomua's relations heard the woman's screams and approached him when he got out of the car.

"When he confronted you, you spat out the victim's severed lip and then walked off."

The woman was taken to Waitakere Hospital before being transferred to Middlemore where she underwent surgery.

Unfortunately, doctors were unable to re-attach her lower lip.

Judge Fraser said the victim impact statement made "graphic and disturbing reading" and it was clear there were deep seated psychological issues for her.

"One suspects that the victim will live with the physical disfigurement and the psychological impact for the rest of her life."

Crown prosecutor Scott McColgan said the "grave nature" of the injuries proved that a picture says a thousand words.

He said the woman had been permanently disfigured and she had problems eating.

Solomua's lawyer Mark Edgar said his client was drunk but that was no excuse for what he had done.

He said Solomua had the support of his family in court and was very sorry for what he had done.

In sentencing, Judge Fraser took into account Solomua's early guilty plea, previous clean record and his "deep remorse".

"Mr Solomua, this is serious and callous violence.''

He said it was hard to know what came over Solomua and the fact he was drunk was not a mitigating factor.

"Mr Solomua, I hope you use the opportunity whilst incarcerated to reflect on your behaviour and I hope that you will be assisted to learn that this type of mindless violence must never be repeated.

"If you look at the photographs of the injuries inflicted on the victim - and I hope you've seen these - if nothing else, that should cause you to determine that you will never ever act like this again."

- APNZ