Man sentenced after road-rage incident

Jamie Curtis Pene. Photo / Mark Mitchell

A Wellington motorist who cut off two visiting American cyclists and then punched the male tourist was sentenced today to 12 months' intensive supervision and 80 hours' community work.

Jamie Curtis Pene, 39, had pleaded guilty at an earlier court appearance to a charge of common assault, which carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison.

In Wellington District Court today, Judge Susan Thomas told him his sentence would "not be easy by any means.'' Supervision conditions included a psychiatric assessment and completion of any treatment and counselling required.

Pene had been driving his car in Wellington's Newtown at about 4.30pm on January 10 when he swerved close to the Oregon couple, Russ Roca and Laura Crawford, who were on a cycling tour of New Zealand.

The pair had to stop abruptly at the busy intersection of Riddiford and Main streets. Pene pulled over, got out of his car and tackled Mr Roca to the ground before punching him in the face.

The victim suffered a minor cut inside his lip and a sore shoulder but did not require medical attention.

Judge Thomas said the emotional injuries were more serious. Riding a bicycle was Mr Roca's personal and professional life.

She acknowledged Pene's show of remorse, which included writing a letter to the victim apologising and expressing shame.

He had a large number of previous convictions, two of them for violence, with the last one in 2009.

The judge said Pene had expressed interest in dealing with his anger management issues, which had arisen from his violent childhood.

However, despite his immediate and open acceptance of responsibility, the recent assault was "reprehensible.''

Lawyer Amanda Courtney said Pene made no excuse for his unpremeditated, spur of the moment assault on Mr Roca, although he claimed the two cyclists were riding beside each other, which sparked an initial verbal altercation.

``He, himself, was quite horrified about what he had done,'' Ms Courtney said.
Her client had written an apology and asked "humbly and from the bottom of his heart for forgiveness.''

The extensive media coverage had been an additional punishment and caused him difficulty gaining further employment.

"It was one punch (but) it was unacceptable,'' Ms Courtney said.

Pene later left the court building briskly, refusing to comment and holding one hand in front of his face in response to waiting media cameras.