Three soldiers guilty of assault

Three soldiers who assaulted colleagues at the Linton amy camp had been jailed, demoted, reprimanded or fined by an army court martial.

Lance Corporal Hirini Murfitt, 25, was sent to an army prison for six months, demoted to the rank of private and severely reprimanded on four counts of assault and one of injuring with intent, the Manawatu Standard reported.

Lance Corporal Calvin Mitchell, 24, was sentenced to 18 months' stay of seniority but will remain the same rank. He was also reprimanded on an assault charge.

Private Ryan Jones, 20, was jailed for 10 days and fined $300 for his assault charge.

The three faced assault and kidnapping charges after a late-night interrogation in May last year which left one soldier with a shattered face. Another was held down with a gas cooker under his leg, the newspaper reported.

All three were acquitted on the kidnapping charges.

- NZPA