NZ- Pakistani immigrant attacks wife with hammer

Yasir Mohib, 31, from Pakistan.

Legally married to the victim, mother of their 3 children. Has a second "wife" whom he married in a religious ceremony.

In May 2015, Mohib and his two wives were at home watching a movie. The victim asked Mohib why he was holding the other wife's hand, but not hers.

The other woman left the room and Mohib slapped the victim in the face, then punched her multiple times in the head.

He told her: "We'll finish this after the movie, don't say a word".

After the movie ended, Mohib grabbed a hammer and told the victim: "This is for you".

He hit her multiple times with blows to the arms and legs.

She begged for her life and Mohib stopped the attack. She suffered at least 5 bruises to her right thigh, a large bruise to her right arm and further bruises to her face and head.

In September 2015, Mohib pleaded guilty to charges of common assault, assault with a weapon and threatening behaviour.

He apologised to his wife at a restorative justice conference and she wanted to reunite the family.

They then attended religious counselling at a local mosque. The victim said she was under pressure from her family and gave a false statement to police.

In a pre-sentence interview, Mohib denied using a hammer and blamed the victim's parents for his frustration, which led to the attack.

He applied for discharge without conviction on basis that the attack was "spontaneous and out of character".

Mohib's work visa was cancelled and he was declined a visitor visa, so he was in New Zealand illegally, and he might be deported. His family - who are all NZ citizens - would then struggle financially.

Police opposed the discharges without conviction, on the grounds the offending was serious and it was not certain Mohib would be deported.

In April 2016, Judge Cunningham granted the discharge without conviction. She noted there were no broken bones and Mohib stopped when the victim pleaded with him. The guilty pleas, restorative justice and counselling reduced the seriousness of the offending, in her ruling.

She noted obvious immigration consequences and the desperate need for Mohib to work again because of dire financial circumstances.

The Solicitor-General appealed the decision on the grounds Judge Cunningham erred by usurping the role of immigration authorities, the offending was serious and the discharge without conviction was "plainly wrong".

August 2016, High Court Justice Edwin Wylie overturns decision.

Read the reast of the article here.