Policeman faces new inquiry

Disgraced South Auckland police officer Anthony Solomona could face further internal disciplinary charges after he was convicted yesterday of assaulting a 17-year-old youth.

Senior Sergeant Solomona was convicted and discharged and ordered by the Manukau District Court to pay $1250 in reparation to Angelo Turner for assaulting him outside a South Auckland service station in February last year.

Last month, Solomona was acquitted on three other assault charges, and a charge of assault with a weapon, by Judge Bruce Davidson at a defended hearing in the Papakura District Court.

After sentencing yesterday, Detective Inspector Keith Brady, of police professional standards, said he would now recommend to Police Commissioner Rob Robinson that a police tribunal hear the charges.

Mr Brady, who led the investigation against Solomona, yesterday described the sentence as "realistic".

Solomona's 18-year police career is in limbo, pending the outcome of that inquiry.

Solomona's counsel, John Haigh, QC, would not elaborate on Solomona's career prospects. Solomona has so far declined media interviews.

Judge Davidson ruled Solomona had been guilty of using excessive force in arresting Mr Turner on a breach of the peace charge in February last year.

He manhandled Mr Turner while loading him into his police car, smashing him face first on to the bonnet in the process.

Judge Davidson, of Wellington, had delayed sentencing until yesterday while Solomona's counsel prepared submissions for a discharge without conviction.

But before a gallery packed with media and spectators, Mr Haigh said Solomona would be withdrawing that application.

"He has accepted responsibility for his actions and is willing to live with the consequences."

Mr Haigh said Solomona believed he was acting appropriately at the time, but now realised he had over-reacted. He was remorseful not only for the distress he had caused Mr Turner, but for the upset to his own family.

Solomona, 40, is married to Youth Court and Family Court judge Ida Malosi.

The charge has effectively ended Solomona's police career, and he is now retraining. Though he is still officially on the force, Mr Haigh said the police are "unforgiving in these situations" and his client's job "one way or another will probably be at an end". 

Despite that, Solomona accepted his guilt "unequivocally" and made "a clear and unambiguous apology" to Mr Turner. Any sentence imposed by the court would only "effectively compound the humiliation he has brought on himself".

Judge Davidson, in passing sentence, said Solomona's actions in arresting Mr Turner were "quite poor", and the incident had left his victim distrustful of police and, for some time after the incident, fearing police retaliation.

But Judge Davidson also praised Solomona's distinguished service to South Auckland, saying he was now entitled to call on his good character.

"I believe you have much to offer in the rest of your working life," he said. 

Afterwards, the director of the Mangere East Family Service Centre, Peter Sykes, said Solomona had been "scapegoated" by police top brass, who "need to be kicked in the butt".

Mr Sykes said Solomona should have been given support by police management rather than singled out as an example of a "sick" police culture.

"I don't care about the police talk about a core of bad police. I don't believe that."

Mr Sykes, who provided a character reference for the defence at Solomona's sentencing, said the police were "totally under-resourced".

"When you put staff at risk by under-staffing, you will end up with points where these sorts of things happen, a point where people break."

A spokeswoman for Judge Malosi said she would not be making any comment.