The Tribune

By FARRAH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

A 30-year-old man who threatened to kill a man before assaulting another was yesterday fined $1,000 and ordered to compensate both of his victims.

John Sainsbury was arrested after he made death threats to a man on May 7. The prosecution said the accused also caused $2,240 worth of damage to the complainant’s car before assaulting another man the same day.

He admitted the offences when he appeared before Magistrate Samuel McKinney.

The court was told on the day in question, Sainsbury attended a barbecue at the first complainant’s residence. According to the prosecution, during the get together, the accused became aggressive and hostile and broke a bottle which he then pointed at the host. He told officers when he asked Sainsbury to leave, the accused refused to do so and instead, said he’d kill him before causing damage to the front windshield and two of the tyres of his Toyota car.

The court was told that some time later, Sainsbury struck a second man in the face before threatening him as well. When he was eventually taken into custody and interviewed, he admitted the offences.

During his plea in mitigation, Sainsbury’s attorney, Bjorn Ferguson, told the magistrate the situation was a “one-off incident” that involved alcohol. He claimed everyone at the barbecue was drinking and “things were said, tempers flared, and the situation got out of hand”. Mr Ferguson insisted his client was remorseful for his actions and willing to compensate both of the men he threatened.

As a result, Magistrate McKinney fined Sainsbury $1,000 or six months in prison for issuing threats of death. He also ordered him to compensate the first complainant $2,400 for the damage he caused to his vehicle and told him to pay the second victim $150 for striking him in the face.