PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 6 SEPTEMBER 2007

Jigsaw Pleased to See Appropriate Punishment in Mid Canterbury Domestic Violence Case

Jigsaw Family Services is pleased to see that a 50 year old Mid Canterbury man has been sentenced to a year’s jail after assaulting his stepson.

The man pleaded guilty to two charges of assault and assault with the intent to injure his 15 year old stepson in a serious attack after there was an altercation between the 15 year old boy and his mother.

Jigsaw CEO Strategic Operations, Liz Kinley is pleased with the sentence delivered by Judge Graeme Noble.

“This was a very serious case of child abuse and I am glad to see that this man has received an appropriate punishment.”

Allegedly the attack from the stepfather followed a physical altercation between the 15 year old boy and his mother. Ms Kinley suggests that there are much better ways to handle situations like this.

“Disciplining a violent act by a child in your care with more violence is very harmful to everyone involved. In a situation like this there are many possible ways to help you not hurt your child. In a stressful situation an adult needs to step back and remember that they are the adult. How they behave in this situation can influence their child in the future.”

Ms Kinley says that there are many places for people to turn to if they feel they may hurt their child.

“If someone feels like they want to hurt their child they can call one of jigsaw’s agencies around New Zealand, go to our website (www.jigsaw.org.nz ) or call our child abuse prevention line which is 0800 228 737.”

ENDS

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