NZ boxer jailed for six years

A former professional boxer from New Zealand who bit off the lip off his defacto wife was jailed for six years in Brisbane today.

Ken Paepae Seiuli had been out of prison for just three months - for biting the face of another woman - when he attacked his partner in January last year, the Brisbane District Court heard today.

Seiuli pleaded guilty to one count of causing grievous bodily harm to his then defacto wife and admitted another charge of causing actual bodily harm.

The court was told Seiuli, 48, had been sentenced to 17-month's jail in April 2008 for assaulting his former partner and causing her bodily harm by biting her breast and face.

Prosecutor Rebecca Marks said Seiuli was released on parole from that offence in September 2008 and several months later assaulted his latest partner.

Ms Marks said the 31-year-old woman was left permanently disfigured despite having surgery to repair the injury to her upper-lip.

She said after biting the woman's lip, Seiuli lifted up her dress and said: "I want the whole world to see what kind of slut you are."

The court was told it was unclear why Seiuli, a New Zealand national, was not deported after being released from jail on parole for his last violent attack.

However, the Courier Mail newspaper reported it was likely he would face deportation after he completed this sentence or was granted parole.

Barrister Angus Edwards, for Seiuli, said his client became enraged and assaulted his former partner after he heard her discussing "previous sexual partners" with another person.

He said Seiuli accepted what he had done was "terrible".

Seiuli, who fought under the name Ken Sauvine in the cruiserweight division in Queensland from 1994, retired from professional boxing in 2003 with a record of three wins, one draw and 13 losses.

Judge Julie Dick, in sentencing Seiuli, said: "You are a big strong looking man ... (and) you've been a boxer."

"You have a serious problem about assaulting women ... (and) you have to be stopped."

- NZPA