KEY POINTS:
A Hastings schoolboy whose assault was videoed and placed on the YouTube internet site told Hastings District Court today he had expected to get "a hiding" but hoped he could talk his way out of it.
The youth, whose name has been suppressed, was assaulted at a Hastings park on March 30 by two brothers and a number of others who had been alerted by text-messaging to the pre-arranged fight.
An 18-year-old Flaxmere youth, Jerry Putaranui denied assaulting the schoolboy with intent to injure but was convicted by Judge Bob Wolff. He was remanded on bail until tomorrow for sentence.
The victim said the older of two brothers had challenged him to a fight on March 30 in a park after a confrontation at school with the younger brother.
"I didn't want to get beaten up. I went there hoping I could talk my way out of it. I felt scared and nervous. I felt I was going to get a hiding," he said.
He was surprised to find between 30 and 40 young people waiting at the park.
"People I didn't even know were coming up and saying they were going to dig my grave - that sort of thing," he said.
The fight was initially delayed until someone arrived with a video camera and one youth opted to be a "referee" to ensure a fair fight. The said he was searched to see if he had any weapons on him.
He was then punched and knocked to the ground by the older brother and kicked numerous times by others in the crowd as he lay on the ground. At one stage he got to his feet and was punched by the younger brother, falling to the ground where he was kicked again.
"I didn't try to run away. I knew I couldn't get away," he said.
Police constable Bradley Clark, who investigated the assault, said he had watched the YouTube footage about 40 times while trying to identify offenders. He linked Putaranui to the incident after recognising his red-laced shoes among feet seen kicking the youth.
Putaranui admitted kicking the youth at least four times in the ribs. He did not realise the footage had been posted on YouTube until someone told him.
His counsel, Brian Webby, challenged the admissability of his viedotaped confession to police, arguing his client had not been given adequate opportunity to get legal advice beforehand.
Judge Wolff ruled the taped confession was admissible but queried why the police had not shown the YouTube footage as part of its evidence.
Mr Clark said the footage was relatively unsteady although he had identified Putaranui's shoe as one of those seen striking the victim's body.
The two brothers who were convicted earlier are due to be sentenced on August 8.
- NZPA
