Well-known to the court for his previous conviction, Justice of the Peace John Whitta said he would not consider Travel Tuaputa’s previous record as it was not similar to the current offence.

At the Criminal Court in Avarua yesterday, Tuaputa was convicted and ordered to go up for sentencing in three months if he reoffends.

JP Whitta said on January 28, this year there was a fight between two groups outside the Super Brown Nikao area.  Tuaputa admitted to his involvement in the fight.

According to the probation report, Tuapatu showed he had a steady job.

JP Whitta acknowledged that Tuaputa had admitted to the facts of the case on his first appearance.

He recognised that he had sentenced others involved in the same incident. The JP also recognised that Tuaputa had intervened to help a friend and admitted to hitting someone else.

JP Whitta explained that Tuaputa’s previous record of dishonesty should only affect sentencing if it was for a similar nature.

He concluded that prison was not a fair outcome for Tuaputa.