R v Heitia

Nelson Heitia was convicted of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and sentenced to eight years imprisonment. The appellant appealed against his sentence. The case came before Glazebrook, Gendall, and Asher JJ of the Court of Appeal of New Zealand. The appellant submitted a statement from a co-offender, William Wirihana, seeking to introduce it as evidence. The Crown opposed this, and the Court declined to admit the evidence, finding it did not qualify as fresh evidence. The Court considered the severity of the attack, the injuries sustained by the victim, and the appellant's criminal history. The Court found the starting point of eight years imprisonment appropriate, and dismissed the appeal against sentence. The sentence of eight years imprisonment was upheld.