Teen 'lucky' to avoid murder charge

A teenager with no previous convictions who was jailed this week for attacking a complete stranger was told that he was lucky not to be facing a murder charge.

Lucas James Hazel, 17, of Taradale, Napier was sentenced in Napier District Court to 2 1/2 years in prison after admitting wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and aggravated robbery, Hawke's Bay Today reported.

Three others alleged to have been involved in the late-afternoon drunken attack in a Napier alleyway are yet to be dealt with and have interim name suppression.

The victim, 22-year-old Jason Lawrence, who as unknown to any of the group, was attacked as he walked home after hawking his curriculum vitae around central city businesses, looking for work.

The victim, who was purported to have "bumped" one of the group, was struck with a "king-hit" to the head, knocking him to the ground where he was kicked on and stomped on.

He lay on the path for up to an hour before he was found and rushed to hospital in a critical condition.

Judge Geoff Rea said Hazel, who was 16 at the time of the attack, and one other later told of having heard Mr Lawrence "gurgling," but did nothing to help him.

"It's something of a miracle you are not here on a murder or manslaughter charge," the judge said. "It's probably only the skill of the medical staff that saved [the victim] from dying."

- NZPA