David LangeA Dunedin man has narrowly avoided a jail term after beating a boarding house resident with a hammer, which left the victim needing 65 stitches in his head wounds. The defendant had no prior convictions for violence, too, Judge John Macdonald said, before sentencing him to nine months' home detention. The victim banged on Lange's door after retrieving a claw hammer from his room. Judge Macdonald accepted Lange had not started the brawl but noted the severe injuries to the man who had. As well as the home detention, the judge also ordered him to complete 200 hours of community work.

Source: Otago Daily Times December 04, 2017 19:07 UTC