Specific criminal offences for “coward punches” are to be introduced by the Government.
Announced by Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith, the new law will introduce an assault offence for one punch attacks which cause grievous bodily harm.
The maximum penalty when the offender intended to cause injury or acted with a disregard for safety would be eight years imprisonment.
If an offender was found to have intended to cause grievous bodily harm, the maximum penalty would be fifteen years imprisonment.
The new law would also introduce a culpable homicide offence for a one punch attack which resulted in death with a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
In New South Wales, a law was introduced in 2014 which included an eight-year minimum sentence for fatal one-punch attacks influenced by drugs or alcohol.
In 2017, the first conviction was made under the law, and an offender was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.
Goldsmith said the “coward punch” gets its name for “obvious reasons”.
“These attacks affect everyday Kiwis and are often committed by cowardly attackers, who strike when the victim is distracted.
“We know how dangerous they are. People can be killed or suffer lifelong brain injuries, yet perpetrators often receive lenient and insufficient sentences.
“This fulfils a commitment in the National/New Zealand First coalition agreement, to introduce legislation to create an offence for anyone who injures or kills someone with a coward punch.”
He said specific offences would ensure the consequence reflected the gravity of the crime.
“It builds on our plan to restore law and order, which we know is working, and will help reduce the number of victims of violent crime.”
Previous calls for law to be introduced
The offences “will ensure the consequence reflects the gravity of the crime”. (Source: 1News)
There have long been calls for a law of similar nature to be introduced in New Zealand.
In 2018, then National MP Matt King proposed a law to introduce specific offences for coward punches, asking for a maximum of 20 year imprisonment for deaths caused by such attacks.
New Zealand First campaigned on a coward punch law in the leadup to the 2020 election.
In 2021, National joined UFC stars in supporting a coward punch law after the death of MMA fighter Fau Vake.
The same year, then Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern cautioned against introducing such a a law, and said it could “unintended consequences”.
