A Tauranga mother who repeatedly smacked her daughter before leaving her outside in her underwear after a late night argument has been sentenced to nine months supervision.
The woman, who has permanent name suppression, was convicted and sentenced on the charge of assaulting a child by Judge Christopher Harding in Tauranga District Court on Tuesday.
According to police, the woman and her 11-year-old daughter returned home from a friend's house by taxi about 10.30pm on March 20.
They got into an argument and the daughter began yelling at her mother from her bed. The 52-year-old then walked into the room and began shaking her daughter by her arms repeatedly telling her to calm down.
After smacking her bottom twice, slapping her face and the bottom another four times, the mother forcefully locked her daughter in the rear garden at about 11pm in her underwear.
Making her way to the neighbours, the daughter was later returned to her father's separate address.
When questioned by police on May 9, the mother said the argument boiled over after her daughter was 'bossing her around” and being irritable and moody while at the friend's address earlier that night.
'When she had got home she had had enough with the daughter and sent her to bed, but she kept getting up and yelling to her mother,” says the summary.
'She says she marched her to the back door and placed her outside to ‘chill out and calm down'.”
The daughter received bruising and scratches to her arms and chest as a result of the physical argument.
Defence lawyer Rita Nabney says since the incident the woman has taken steps to remedy her relationship, including restorative justice with her daughter and estranged husband as well as counselling.
Judge Christopher Harding says this behaviour is over the top and certainly unacceptable.
He sentenced the 52-year-old to nine months supervision.
9 comments
Who is the offender?
Posted on 02-07-2014 11:58 | By george36
Judge Christopher Harding says the mother's behaviour is "over the top and certainly unacceptable." I wonder how he views the daughter's behaviour.
sigh
Posted on 02-07-2014 13:11 | By sojourner
If children are not allowed to be disciplined when they are small they will turn out to have zero respect for others. A child that yells at a parent without stopping and that late at night can certainly stretch the patience of the parent to breaking point.I think the child needs nine months supervision plus an apology to her mother. Not that I think it's ok to bruise, scratch and put a child outside in the dark in her underwear. Wrongwrongwrong all 'round.
Why before the courts?
Posted on 02-07-2014 14:22 | By jed
Pathetic this went to court. I disagree with Judge Harding. This is a good example of the anti-smacking law gone bad.
Really?
Posted on 02-07-2014 17:38 | By Happimum
Disciplined? You think hitting a child in the face and locking her outside in the middle of the night is discipline? Defending the mother is wrong on so many levels, she is supposed to be the adult, she could have diffused the situation in a different way, how she acted is child abuse plain and simple. I am worried for the state of our society if you both think she acted fairly. No matter her behaviour she is still a child at 11. Disgusting comments from both of you.
Let's take a step back....
Posted on 02-07-2014 23:45 | By groutby
and understand that in ANY situation where the "natural" parents have separated,in this case the 11 year old will manipulate the situation as best he or she can to advantage,if found not to be getting his/her "way", then the result is exactly this. There are no winners or losers and each situation is not "clear cut", but if parents have the will to stay together and work things out in the first place, then this does not give the offspring opportunity for such behaviour...does it?. However, the "Anti-smacking" law passed introduced by the no longer Member of Parliament, does allow the child an "advantage" over a/the responsible and loving parent(s).Very, very bad and murky legislation.
Respect?
Posted on 03-07-2014 00:16 | By GreertonBoy
What is that? Oh yes, I remember.... that is that old concept that used to be instilled in young people last century.... it was when you had children that would actually do what they were told... ahhhh the good old days.... long gone! Young people have zero respect, they want everything NOW, they learn how far they can push their parents and who to contact if they actually manage to push the parents over the edge so they snap... Happimum, how do you propose to diffuse an out of control teenager in full flight? One that you have never been allowed to teach any respect before? I haven't met any 11 year olds lately that are 'children' they are more like a 16 yo from 20 years ago. The child would have known exactly how her attitude was affecting the mother. Poor, poor wee child.... yeah right, as if!
NZ abuse
Posted on 03-07-2014 06:32 | By Wonkytonk
And i wonder why NZ has one of the highest abuse rates, looking at some of these comments it seems to be acceptable behaviour. "She'll be alright"..one day
Wankytonk
Posted on 03-07-2014 17:16 | By GreertonBoy
It is not a case of not wanting to do something about it, it is a case of it having happened under our noses and now it is too late to try to change it. It is a world wide problem now. Teens get given everything, except the concept of respect, if the young don't get what they want right now (or enough) they tend to self destruct, hit trees in cars or commit suicide. It is a sad world, I don't remember when it changed, I think the late 90's is when it really went out of control? However, of course the mother was wrong to snap and smack kid, but it is not just her fault, it is society in general that has failed, and is continuing to fail... Here is a nice thought, the teens of today, will one day be our leaders! Crikey... scares me!
children have rights
Posted on 08-07-2014 14:00 | By 2sides
Shaking an 11 year old child, smacking her bottom 6 times then slapping her face is not discipline, its child abuse.
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