Woman hit by police officer brought it on herself: judge

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

A woman’s claim a police officer punched her in the face and that she intended to lodge a formal complaint about it met with little support from Judge Charles Blackie in Gisborne District Court.

Judge Blackie said while the woman’s allegation was for the Independent Police Conduct Authority — not him — to resolve, it seemed she brought the matter entirely upon herself.

Police were called to deal with Tyler Tanja Rahera Ngareta Gray, 28, on December 19 last year after a disturbance in which an issue she took with someone degenerated into her throwing bricks at a car.

When questioned, Gray spat at and threatening an officer by saying “I’m gonna boot your head in ****”.

When put in a patrol car, she persistently raised her legs as if she was going to kick.

Police had a difficult enough job to do, Judge Blackie said. They were there to protect the community and — as recent events in Christchurch demonstrated — when the rubber hit the road, everyone depended on them.

Next time it could be her who needed police help, the judge told the woman.

Gray pleaded guilty to assault and using threatening language. She was convicted and sentenced to 50 hours community work.

Judge Blackie noted she was a first offender and the work sentence would have been “substantially more” had she not been.

Gray’s guilty pleas came after the assault charge was reduced from assaulting police and after police withdrew a charge of disorderly behaviour.

Counsel Stephen Taylor said Gray’s actions occurred in a situation where she was punched by a constable at least once in the face, resulting in swelling, a partially closed eye and issues with her spine.

But Judge Blackie noted that according to police, the constable’s actions came after Gray’s behaviour and while she was moving to carry out her threat.