A fracas at a Franz Josef Glacier funeral wake left one innocent bystander unconscious and his brother nursing a bruised head, the Greymouth District Court heard yesterday.
Tauranga man, Benjamin James Smith, 26, was ordered to pay each of his victims $500 emotional harm payments and sentenced to 80 hours' community work after he admitted the two assaults.
Police prosecutor Steven Greer said Smith, and his brother, were in an angry mood at the Monsoon Bar at 1.30am on February 3.
Two South Westland locals were sitting on a sofa when Benjamin Smith went over, kicked one man in the leg and then, pinning his head back with one hand, delivered three blows, knocking him unconscious.
The victim's brother tried to pull him away but Smith broke free and delivered five or six more blows to the unconscious man.