Girl, 17, jailed for 'brutal' robbery

Committing two aggravated robberies in less than a year has landed a young woman behind bars for more than two years.
Judge Peter Callinicos was uncompromising in his sentencing of Chloe Winiata, 17, in the Wanganui District Court yesterday.
He declined to grant name suppression despite the fact she had committed the robbery while she was 16.
Last September he had transferred Winiata from the Youth Court to district court jurisdiction for sentencing because of the violence and viciousness of the second attack, on July 24 last year, and the fact that she was on bail at the time.
"It was so serious it was tantamount to adult offending," he said.
Winiata lived with a gang and associated with a "sad"group of people, he said.
"You live a gang lifestyle with drugs and alcohol."
Rather than being concerned about her cruelty to her vulnerable victim - a 17-year-old female who had been walking home - Winiata was more interested in impressing her peers.
Any remorse she felt was for herself, Judge Callinicos said.
The court was told Winiata was in town with friends drinking.
As they walked along the street they had passed another group of young girls and abused them.
One young girl had become separated from the group and Winiata had attacked her.
She had dragged the young girl into the middle of the road and started punching her in the face.
When the girl had dropped to the ground Winiata had repeatedly kicked her in the face and stomach.
Even when her victim curled up into ball to protect herself, Winiata had continued kicking her.
Then, after the victim was pulled away, Winiata had run after her, punching and kicking her.
She had also taken her victim's wallet and cellphone.
She had later sold the wallet, the court was told.
"This attack was particularly brutal, cruel and vindictive.
"It was gratuitous and an impulse attack on a victim who was very vulnerable and had become separated from her friends.
"It was cruel because you refused to cease.
"And you have shown no genuine remorse for your victim," Judge Callinicos said.
In her victim impact report the girl said she and her friends were now too nervous and scared to go out at night.
They had stayed home since the attack.
The attack by Winiata had been so random she still couldn't understand why it had happened.
The victim also said that when Winiata had been kicking and punching her she couldn't believe it was really happening or why it was happening.
Judge Callinicos refused to suppress Winiata's name.
He said Wanganui was a small town and people in the community were entitled to know who the perpetrators of violence in the community were.
"This was a serious street robbery.
"It was a situation that was in the public interest and people needed to know who was involved."