Gang-related beating left man with seven broken teeth

Wednesday, 10 May 2023

A 23-year-old man will be sentenced in the Timaru District Court in August for his part in an attack on a man in Ashburton. (File photo)

A former Napier man with Mongrel Mob affiliations has admitted his role in the beating of an Ashburton man who suffered seven broken teeth and a fracture to his upper jaw.

CJ Pereka Keefe, 23, accepted an earlier sentencing indication in admitting a charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm following the incident in August 2022, when he appeared via an audiovisual link before Judge Bruce Davidson in the Timaru District Court on Tuesday.

Keefe was one of three men, who all have gang affiliations, alleged to have cornered the victim in the entranceway of the Ministry of Social Development building on Tancred St.

Two other men are also facing wounding with intent charges from the incident while one of them has additional charges of assault with a weapon and driving while suspended third and subsequent.

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The Summary of Facts says Keefe “had a chain in his right hand and approached the victim who was lying on the ground”.

“…Keefe repeatedly hit the victim around the body with the chain,” the summary says.

Judge Davidson convicted Keefe and remanded him in custody to August 24 for sentencing before Judge Campbell Savage in the Timaru District Court. Judge Davidson also requested an updated Victim Impact Statement, a restorative justice report and a cultural report.