Queentown visitor assaulted in row over 'racist' goat pie remark

Justin Daniel Mullen appeared in Queenstown District Court and admitted assaulting the man on July 14.

A man who assaulted a visitor to Queenstown after a conversation about goat pies was ordered to pay the victim $250 by Judge Mark Callaghan in the Queenstown District Court.

Justin Daniel Mullen, 47, a builder from Queenstown, admitted assaulting Morgan Hockley, of Hamilton, on July 14 in Queenstown.

Prosecuting Sergeant Mike Wingfield, of Dunedin, said yesterday Mullen and the victim were inside the Night'n Day on Camp St about 4am and the pair began talking about goat pies.

Mullen allegedly said "only Asians would sell goat pies''.

Hockley responded by telling him to "stop being racist''.

Hockley left the store and was followed by Mullen who punched him once to the face without warning, causing the victim to fall back and hit his head on the concrete wall.

Mullen then walked towards McDonald's on Camp St.

Judge Callaghan said the victim had some issues with concentration, spells of dizziness and tenderness to his jaw.

His victim impact statement said one of the people he was with welcomed a child a couple of days after the incident.

"He expresses the opinion he could easily have ... hit his head and never got to meet the child. He says this type of incident needs to stop.''

Mullen had no history of violence or convictions for assault since 1995 and while restorative justice may have been "the answer", Mullen declined to take part.

Judge Callaghan ordered him to pay the emotional harm reparation in full within 14 days.