Girl who bashed bus driver 'sees violence as part of life'

A 15-year-old girl who joined in the bashing of a Christchurch bus driver had accepted violence as a part of life, said Judge Patricia Costigan at the girl's sentencing in the Youth Court yesterday.

"That's a sad indictment of your lifestyle, your environment, and your upbringing," she said, sentencing the girl to supervision with residence.

The three-month term followed by six months' supervision is part of a sentencing plan for the only member of the teenage group that set upon the Orbiter bus driver on May 7 to be charged.

Her lawyer, David Ruth, said he did not understand why she faced the charge alone because the names of the other members of the group had been given to the police.

The police told Judge Costigan that the investigation was continuing and some others would "no doubt end up in this court".

Mr Ruth acknowledged that the social worker's report on the girl showed she displayed no victim empathy or remorse.

"She's aggressive and she's had a background that none of us would envy."

The girl was appearing for sentencing on three charges of theft and a charge of injuring the driver with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. She admitted stealing cash from the driver's cash tin - about $250, which she distributed among her friends.

The group on the bus had attacked the driver when he tried to get them off at the end of the journey. The driver spent a week in hospital, was off work, and was still receiving specialist treatment for eye injuries.

A family group conference was held where the driver and his wife described the impact of the offending to the girl.

"It has affected his employment, his feelings of being safe at night when he's driving, and in the wider sense it has affected his family," said Judge Costigan.

The girl had a "concerning history of offending" involving violence.

"You appear to indulge in verbal and physical aggressive behaviour at random. You appear to accept violence as a part of life."

She appreciated the girl had a traumatic upbringing and had been a victim of abuse.

"You are now a very angry young woman." The girl needed help to break the cycle of offending.

"You also need to understand the effect of your offending on your victims," said the judge.

The plan had been designed to address her problems, particularly her anger, and she had made some progress while in Social Welfare Department custody.

- NZPA