Hati has a long-standing problem with alcohol. He was jailed for eight months in 2013 for a series of alcohol-fuelled crimes, including assaulting a stranger outside a bar and another stranger he invited into his house. But he told the court on Tuesday he was set to do the eight-week Monarch alcohol rehabilitation programme for the second time. “I’m slowly realising drinking is not good for my anger management.” He used to “hit the bottle” when problems came up, but was figuring out different coping mechanisms, he said. He was sorry for assaulting the police officer. Defence lawyer Simon Parsons said Hati had wanted to do restorative justice – a formal meeting between offenders and victims – with the police officer, but it could not happen.
He was arrested in July 2020 after police saw a vehicle speeding along Main St, Palmerston North. Police found him walking away from the vehicle with the keys in his pocket, but he refused to undergo alcohol checks. He was stopped while driving a ute, with two passengers, on October 11, giving a reading of 654 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath. He had two previous convictions for drink-driving in 2017 and 2018. While he could have been sentenced to community detention, the sentencing judge thought a more serious punishment was needed due to the seriousness of the offending. In a decision released in June, High Court judge Justice Matthew Palmer said the sentence was excessive.
Wanted gunman in custody following a cross-region manhunt stuff.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from stuff.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Wanted man in custody following a cross-region manhunt stuff.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from stuff.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.