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A man has been jailed for tossing his one-year-old daughter into the air and letting her fall on to a concrete path and slashing a relative with a machete when he went to the baby's aid.
Raymond Kereti Ratu, 22, was sentenced to 20 months imprisonment after pleading guilty in Tauranga District Court yesterday to assaulting a child, injuring with regardless disregard for the safety of others, and possession of an offensive weapon, The Bay of Plenty Times reported.
Crown prosecutor Sheree Christensen told Judge Stephen O'Driscoll it was fortuitous that neither the baby, who suffered bruises and grazes to her head, and Ratu's other victim, who required nine stitches for a cut to his hand, were not more seriously injured.
She said Ratu became angry his partner had left him looking after their baby while she went off in a car with friends.
On her return Ratu confronted her at the car and fearing for her safety she locked the door, angering him even more.
He threw the baby into the air about 4m causing her to land on the concrete footpath.
His partner drove off to a relative's home to get help.
On her return, when two relatives tried to divert his attention to take the baby, he lashed out with the machete striking one on the hand.
The baby was taken to Tauranga Hospital and spent one night under observation.
- NZPA
